170 THE GLOWWORM'S TAPER. 



touch of cold Inquiry. But so it is ; and from the-winged 

 lover being provided with a lantern of his own (albeit, a dark 

 one), as well as from other facts, not more conclusive, it has 

 been doubted whether, after all, the torches of Cupid and of 

 Hymen have been the true illuminators of the glowworm's lamp. 



Cui lono, then, the lady's taper ? To answer this inquiry 

 Conjecture has been clever, but, as usual, often at variance with 

 herself. 



AYhile it is supposed by some, that the light of the wingless 

 beetle is bestowed for her protection, to scare away her hungry 

 foes, the nightingale and other birds of night ; it is opined by 

 others, that the insect's gift of brilliancy (like many of the like 

 sort bestowed upon mankind) is the very mean of her destruc- 

 tion, the very lure and light by which her biped foes are as- 

 sisted to discover and devour her. 



Some people, again, have suggested that, whatsoever else its 

 purpose, the glowworm's luminary may be employed as a lamp 

 for her own supper-table, after having previously lent its aid 

 in the finding of her evening meal. It has been observed, 

 indeed, that, for the serving of both such uses, her light would 

 have seemed placed more conveniently at head than tail; but 

 its diffusion, we should think, is amply wide enough to render 

 this objection of little import. 



The Lampynd& 3 even of our northern climate, have southern 

 predilections, being never seen in the north of Scotland, and 

 most universally abounding in the southern English counties. 



