Habits of the Glowworm. 623 



elsewhere read of leech-like animals, which, in Asia, attack the 

 skin, and produce dangerous and poisoned wounds."] 



Insects. — The Glowworm (VII. 250—252.); The Results 

 of Experiments in Elucidation of a Knowledge of its Habits. — I 

 collected six glowworms in June, 1829, on a bank in Ampt- 

 hill Park, Bedfordshire, and placed them in a glass jar, into 

 which I put sand to the depth of about 2 in., taken from the 

 bank on which I had found them, and covered the sand with 

 moss from the same place, that their artificial situation might 

 resemble their natural one as nearly as my confined limits 

 would allow. I introduced my little family into their new and 

 confined dwelling on June 25th, and watched them daily with 

 considerable anxiety. I was obliged frequently to sprinkle 

 them with water, for I found that, if the moss got dry, they 

 would bury themselves in the sand, I suppose in search of 

 moisture ; for, as soon as they found the moss wet, they would 

 come from their hiding-places, trim their beautiful lamps, 

 which became dull when the moss and sand were too dry, and 

 shine with almost unremitting splendour. 



I wanted two things to complete my experiment ; namely, 

 a male, and proper food for their subsistence. I had con- 

 siderable difficulty in capturing the male; but I have since 

 understood that the males are very fond of the juniper tree, 

 and may be taken about it without any difficulty. 



Food, The females had been in confinement a week when 

 I introduced the male; and, during that period, I had tried a 

 great variety of things, such as worms, caterpillars, beetles, 

 various insects, decayed animal and vegetable substances ; in 

 short, any thing I thought the vicinity of their haunts likely 

 to produce : but the objects I supplied seemed not to please 

 their appetites at all, and I began to fear they would die for the 

 want of proper nourishment ; I therefore resolved to visit their 

 favourite resorts, and endeavour, if possible, to detect them 

 in the habit of feeding ; and I was amply rewarded for my 

 trouble ; for on my third visit I detected a female, half buried 

 in the shell of a snail (Helix nemoralis), in the act of feeding. 

 My mind being thus relieved, I soon procured a plentiful sup- 

 ply of food for my little prisoners. I divested two or three 

 snails of their shells, and soon had the gratification to find 

 that I had provided them with a most agreeable repast ; so 

 much so, that three of the females appeared to eat nearly the 

 whole of the following day, without intermission ; after this 

 abundant feasting, they abstained from food for eight days, at 

 least during the day-time. I also found that the middle-sized 

 snail seemed to give the most agreeable relish ; hence I con- 

 sidered I had found the proper food for the glowworm. 



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