THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



121 



Some are covered with large ribs which extend from one 

 end to the other ; others display only fine lines artistically 

 engraved ; others, again, have the surface covered with a 

 net-work of lace. For them nature has exhausted the 

 riches of her palette : they are dyed with the softest or the 

 most brilliant tints of blue, green, and red ; some absolutely 

 resemble mother-of-pearl, and there are some that one might 

 take for so many charming little iridescent pearls. 



The sexuality itself of insects offers some curious par- 

 ticulars. There are not only males and fe- 

 males among them, but some of their re- 

 publics have, in addition, individuals ab- 

 solutely deprived of sex ; these are the 

 neuters, which alone work, and constitute 60 - Glowworm, male 



and female : Lanqiyris 



the element of the prosperity and power of noctiiuca. 



the state. Some are true workmen, others valiant soldiers. 



But these individuals, which we recognize by their form or 



their particular weapons, are in truth 

 only aborted females; the bees them- 

 selves know this perfectly, as we shall 

 see. 



To all these marvels of insect life 

 we must yet add the inexplicable phe- 

 nomenon of the dazzling light which 

 they project into the midst of the dark- 

 ness, and which sometimes in their 

 flight furrows the air with long streams 



of fire, sometimes peacefully illuminates the foliage on which 



they repose. 



Every person knows the Lampyris, or glowworm, which 



61. Luminous Beetle of the 

 Antilles: Elater noctilucus. 



