226 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



The glow-worm shows the matin to be near. 

 And 'gius to pale his ineffectual fire. 



It amounts also to a strong negative proof, that 

 among the considerable numbers of females which 

 we have collected when shining, we only once tound 

 a male ; and Mr Knapp says, ' he has ever been a 

 scarce creature with me, meeting perhaps with one 

 or two in a year.' The same author mentions ano- 

 ther circumstance, which he thinks does not accord 

 with the sexual theory of the light. Observation had 

 taught him that the light is not emitted afier the 

 middle of July, at least so clearly and steadily, (we 

 found them at Rudesheim on the Rhine in full light 

 at the end of August) ; * but he ' repeatedly noticed, 

 deep in the herbage, a faint evanescent light pro- 

 ceeding from these creatures even as late as August 

 and September. This was particularly manifested 

 September 28th, 1826. The evening was warm and 

 dewy, and I observed on the house bank multitudes 

 of tiiese small evanescent sparks in the grass. The 

 light displayed was very different from that which 

 they exhibit in the warm summer months. Instead 

 of the permanent green glow, that illumined all the 

 blades of the surrounding herbage, it was a pale 

 transient spot, visible for a moment or two, and then 

 so speedily hidden that we were obliged, in order to 

 capture the creature, to employ the light of a candle. 

 The number of them, and their actions, creeping 

 away from our sight, contrary to that half lifeless 

 dullness observed in summer, suggested the idea 

 that the whole body had availed themselves of this 

 warm, moist evening to mio-rate to their winter sta- 

 tion. A single spark was to be seen on some even- 

 ings after this, but no such large moving parties were 

 discovered again. If we conclude that the summer 

 light of the glow-worm is displayed as a signal taper, 



* See Insect Transformations, p. 39. 



