98 



MR HENDBRSON ON THE GLOW-WORM. 



cially of the green plover, the rook, the carrion crow, the lesser gulls, 

 the snipe, the teal, and all the gallinaceous game birds. With some 

 of these I have seen the wild falcon occupied, and with them all we 

 have had good sport with our reclaimed individuals of the species. 

 For, to quote the words of old Belon, one of the fathers of natural 

 history, generally, as well as of ornithology, " Le faucon pelerin 

 est naturellement vaillant, hardy, et de bon affaire, et moult courtois 

 k son maitre. Cest Oiseau est de sa propre nature franc k tout faire." 

 So says Belon in his manly old French, and adds, " On le prend 

 en la saison d'autonne ; car alors il passe de pais en autre." 



Note on the Glow-worm. By Mr George Henderson, Surgeon, 



Chirnside. 



The Lampyris noctiluca seems to be a rare insect in Berwickshire, 

 and I do not know whether it has been noticed by any member 

 of the Club. On passing up the post-road, on the evening of 

 the 5th of August last, between Houndwood Inn and Benton,* I ob- 

 served *' a modest ray" emanating from the wooded bank on the north 

 side of the road. I was convinced that it was the lamp of the glow- 

 worm, although I had never before seen it; but being then on a pro- 

 fessional visit, I had no time to stop, and examine from what source 

 the light proceeded. It was one of the mildest and most beautiful 

 nights of the season, and, on my return, about midnight, I fondly 

 expected again to see the object of my wishes. I was not disap- 

 pointed ; at the same spot, the insect was diffusing its mild radiance 

 on the grass and bushes in its vicinity. The light appeared most 

 beautiful, and I could not help exclaiming with the poet, surely 



*' There's not a fairer beam than this 

 In all the expanse of day !" 



I alighted and captured the creature from the top of a long stalk of 

 grass, on which it had taken up its station. Although I have often 

 passed along the same road, in all seasons, and at all times of the 

 night, I never saw one of these interesting insects, except the indi- 

 vidual which accompanies this note ; but, doubtless, the glow-worm 



* Many years since, the glow-worm was noticed in this station by the late 

 Mr A. A. Casr, author of the " History of Coldingham." 



