6^ She CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



that their eyes do not absorb (as in most insects), but reflect the 

 light — an organization which enables them to distinguish objects 

 in a state of partial darkness, but which leads to their destruction 

 when the light is strong. Blinded, as it were, by excess of radiance 

 they lose all discernment in the blaze, and perish in the flame." 



Our opinion with regard to the structure and office of the eyes 

 of insects is in accordance with the above remarks ; all that is 

 answered, however, is the cause of their perishing in the flame, 

 which we attribute to paralysis of the optic nerve by the excess 

 of light. 



The third answer to the question runs thus : — " We know," 

 (' I have often seen it,' says the writer), " that certain flowers 

 emit of an evening a strong phosphorescent light, visible at some 

 some distance. How many do so whose light is only visible to 

 the keen eyes of insects we do not know ; but I think it probable 

 that many more do than we are aware of. Is it too wild a sug- 

 gestion that nature has supplied those storehouses of insect food, 

 — the flowers, — with this phosphoric glow as a beacon light to 

 these hungry night rovers, and responding to the invitatation, 

 they make for our lighted windows as to a banquet hall ? " 



We venture to make the following remarks on the quotations 

 cited : — If it be true that plants give ofi" a peculiar light, this, to 

 a certain extent, answers the question, and goes far to prove that 

 insects are attracted by the light to feed. Dr. W. B. Carpenter 

 says on this subject : " It has been asserted that many plants, — 

 especially those of an orange colour, such as Tropceolum majus 

 (Nasturtium), 6'a/e?icZM?(i officinalis (Marigold), Helianihus animus 

 (Sunflower), — disengage light in serene and warm evenings, 

 sometimes in the form of sparks, sometimes in a more uniform 

 manner, and many physiologists are disposed to question these 

 assertions, from their not having been themselves able to witness 

 the phenomenon." We have spoken on this subject to several 

 botanists who have never witnessed this light-giving property in 



plants. 



We shall now give our opinion on this subject, and will do so 

 as fully and clearly as possible, by answering the following 



questions : — 



• pirst. — What species of insects are generally attracted to our 



open windows by artificial lights, such as lamps, &c. ? 



Secondly. — What are the habits of those species, and for what 

 purposes are they attracted ? 



