BIOLOGY OF SOME COMMON LAMPYRID^. 47 



him about a foot beyond where she was resting. He at once 

 quickly ascended the nearest stalk of grass, seemingly expecting 

 to find her near its top. He then began to descend, at which 

 time he emitted a flash of light and she responded. He then 

 rushed up another stalk of grass that was in her direction and, 

 not finding her, he flashed again. She responded, and he flew 

 in her direction but alighted nearly a foot beyond her, and he 

 then immediately ascended the nearest stalk of grass. Flashes 

 were exchanged for a period of twelve minutes, during which 

 time he ascended about twenty stalks of grass, and he flew in 

 her direction five different times before he finally found her. 

 Each time she responded to his flash, and each time she orientated 

 her abdomen so that the light was emitted in his direction. 

 It was 8:13 P.M. when he found her, and at once copula- 

 tion took place. This lasted until 8:58 P.M. when they separ- 

 ated, and at once crawled down the blade of grass to the ground 

 where they were concealed by the vegetation. On another 

 occasion, while the male was in the grass about a foot from a 

 female in his search to find her, a small pocket flash-light was 

 used, in which it was found that she would readily respond to a 

 very short flash. As soon as the pair was in copulation the 

 flash-light was again flashed several times, at different intervals, 

 but with no response. After the pair separated the flash-light 

 was again flashed, but with no results. After copulation took 

 place neither one of the pair was observed to flash, and after 

 separating they concealed themselves in the grass, without 

 emitting light, all of which seems still further to prove that the 

 light-organs serve to bring the sexes together, and having accom- 

 plished this end, they are no longer functional until at some 

 possible later date. In a very few instances flashing was ob- 

 served on the part of one of the copulating members, but it 

 seemed to occur only when they were disturbed, which was the 

 exception rather than the rule. 



The pocket flash-light referred to above was used with good 

 success in collecting females. They usually responded when 

 the light was at a distance of at least eight feet, but rarely 

 responded when it was nearer. 



Oviposition usually took place about one week after emergence 



