LAMP-BEARERS 305 



the larva, but the pupa and egg as well. It is quite 

 certain that in neither of these stages can the insect 

 make use of luminosity in this connection ; but, as 

 Messrs. Priske and Main point out, " there are 

 instances in other animals of organs present in the 

 male and immature forms which are only functional 

 in the mature female." 



The male also has a small degree of light, but 

 his lamps are no bigger than pin-heads. Now, it 

 appears to us that if the females' light were not for 

 the purpose of attracting the male, the latter would 

 give as brilliant a display as his partner. 



Besides, if you compare the eyes of the two 

 sexes, you will see that whilst those of the female 

 are small, those of the male are so highly developed 

 that almost the whole of his head consists of his 

 large eyes. Are not these eyes developed to a far 

 greater extent than those of the female in order 

 that he may the better see where her light is shining ? 

 He is certainly attracted by light in a manner that 

 other of our native beetles are not ; and we have 

 witnessed male Glow-worms flocking by scores 

 through an open window because a bright lamp 

 shone within. Till then we had never imagined 

 the Glow-worm was at all plentiful in that district, 

 and the impression we formed was that they had all 

 taken the lamp to be a fine and very luminous 

 female. 



In connection with the difference in the eyes of 

 the two sexes noted above, Dimmock says : " When 

 one sex of any species of Lampyridse emits intenser 

 20 



