252 Short Communications : — 



[We believe, but are not certain, that the differences of ap- 

 pearance in the larva and imago of the glowworm will be found 

 exhibited in one of Professor Rennie's volumes on insects. — 

 Albert has, in our V. 764., supplied useful information on 

 the conditions of the Zvampyris in both its sexes, and " through 

 all its stages : " he has not, however, provided a full answer 

 to the above question. In the Entomologia Edinensis, Cole- 

 optera, a rich store of facts, delightingly told, on the structure, 

 changes, and habits of the iampyris, is supplied, in p. 202 

 —207.] 



The Eggs of the Glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca L.) are 

 luminous, — A young lady lately showed me some eggs of the 

 glowworm (Zampyris noctiluca Z/.), which emitted a pale green- 

 ish light in the dark, and continued to do so for three or four 

 days after they had been deposited. I am not aware that this 

 fact has been before noticed. The eggs are globular, of a pale 

 yellow colour, and about one twentieth part of an inch in dia- 

 meter. — Hugh E. Strickland, Worcestershire, July 21, 1833. 



[Mr. Main marks from " midsummer to the end of August," 

 for the usual period of glowworms being seen in a luminous 

 state. Mr. Bree has seen a luminous glowworm as early as 

 June 14. (see VI. 491.), and as late as the end of October 

 (V. 367, 368.); Mr. Wilson has seen some (see above) as late 

 as Sept. 2.] 



Interesting Facts in relation to a Species of Beetle [Silpha P) 

 and the Scolopendra electrica L. (II. 406., V. 368. 400.) — As 

 I was passing through the ornamental grounds of a friend, on 

 an evening in September, 1832, my attention was directed to a 

 luminous appearance on one of the flower-beds. The accu- 

 mulation of light seeming too great to proceed from the taper 

 of a glowworm, or from any other insect, I approached for 

 the purpose of examination, and I had the gratification of 

 witnessing the following curious and beautiful exhibition : — 

 A spot of ground, nearly a square in form, and not less than 

 six or seven inches across, was totally suffused with luminous 

 matter ; within this spot was a beetle, which I should say, judg- 

 ing from its shape, was a Silpha. This was also covered with 

 the fiery fluid, and seemed to be bewildered by it ; for its 

 proceedings were most irregular and extraordinary. Now it 

 traversed the illuminated space in a manner the most rapid 

 and confused ; now it suddenly stopped, and thrust its head 

 against the soil, to rub off the matter with which it was sur- 

 charged, and again it resumed its headlong course in a series 

 of perpetually decreasing circles. This practice was con- 

 tinually repeated ; and, in short, the poor insect seemed so 

 stupified that it was incapable of pursuing a rectilinear course 

 sufficiently long to extricate itself from the enlightened area. 



