250 Short Commimicatioiis : — 



States, produce their corollas, and those of, or nearly of, the 

 colours respectively proper to each species, in an obscured 

 condition of light almost equal in obscurity to that of a cover- 

 ing of snow. It is notable that the flowers and herbage of 

 each of the plants indicated above turn black in the course of 

 being dried for specimens. — J, D. 



The Vitality of the Eggs of some Species of Insect is very 

 persistent, — Some years since, I had in my bedroom a glazed 

 case containing two stuffed blackbirds. To my knowledge, it 

 had been in the house twenty-three years, and at least half 

 that time in my room. I often used to examine the case, as 

 thinking it curious that the birds should remain so long in a 

 state so perfect as that they were in. One morning, as I was 

 rising, I was much surprised to see the case full of innumer- 

 able small winged insects, all come to life, as it were, at the 

 same moment. I again examined the case, and nothing 

 seemed to indicate the least decay in any one part of it. The 

 thought that the vitality of these eggs had remained so long 

 preserved is an almost incredible one. The whole plumage 

 of the two birds fell off at the time of the appearance of the 

 insects. — /7. B, Blois, Nov. 16. 1833. 



Coleopterous Insects. — Certain Localities of the Glow^ 

 worm (Lampyris noctiluca L.) {fig. 44.), a7id the Conditions of 



them. (I. 155. 299., V. 368. 

 764.) — In reference to the 

 remarks on the " Luminous 

 Appearance on the Ears of 

 a Horse" (V. 764.), I have 

 merely to observe that I can 

 hardly think the glowworm 

 has ever been found in the 

 lowland districts of Somerset- 

 shire; at least, I have never 

 found it there. This I know, 

 that, some years ago I brought 

 a small live colony of glow- 

 worms, I forget the number, 

 from West Harptree, in the 

 neighbourhood of Mendip, where they abound, and deposited 

 them in my garden at Huntspill ; but I could never see one 

 of them afterwards. I conclude, therefore, that the climate, 

 or soil, or both, did not agree with them, and that they 

 perished. I may just add that I have seen the glowworm in 

 great splendour at Redbrook, near Monmouth, on the banks of 

 the Wye. — James Jennings. 14. Gostsoell Road^ Nov. 12. 1832. 

 In the villages north of Cambridge, to the extent of six 



Zainpyris noctililca : a, female ; b, male. 



