94; [September, 



recognise the species when I caught it, or I might doubtless have secured more. I 

 cannot find it recorded from this locality before, although I hear that Mr. Moncreaff 

 has also taken it. — Edward Saunders, Holmesdale, Upper Tooting : August Wth, 

 1880. 



On the phosphorescence of the Glow-worm. — In reading Dr. Sharp's note on the 

 European Firefly in the August number, p. 69, on the interruption of light, as 

 described by MM. Perroud and Arias, in the above species, it occurred to me that 

 I have observed a similar interruption in the light of our common Grlow-worm. I 

 had a fine female sent me for identification some time ago, and I turned her out on my 

 grass plot, she concealed herself during the day and at night came out and exhibited 

 her light ; I have stood over her with a lamp to see if the strong light which it gave 

 would have any effect upon her, but so far as I could see it had none. While watching 

 her I observed that she was turned half round, that is, the posterior segments were 

 turned half round so as to bring the inferior surface uppermost, and thus exhibit the 

 light, or rather lights, for the phosphoric light emanates from two of the abdominal 

 rings leaving a distinct line between the two light-giving spots. 



The insect will remain in the position above described for two or three or more 

 minutes, and then turn herself, or rather the abdominal half, round on the other side 

 so as to throw the light in another direction. When she has remained in this position 

 without attracting a mate she will again reverse the light, and try again in another 

 direction, by this means the observer sees an intermittent light ; I watched this 

 insect for several nights and observed that she proceeded in the same manner on each 

 night. This will account for the disappearance of the light at certain times, and 

 its re-appearance. — Edward Parfitt, Exeter : July %\st, 1880. 



Notes on the intermittent light of Luciola lusitanica. — In returning by the high 

 road from Sacavem to Lisbon in the evening of April 24th, the sight of a few fire- 

 flies upon the wing recalled to mind a discussion at the Meeting of the London 

 Entomological Society in February last, concerning the manner of their giving light. 

 I therefore stopped to ascertain by careful observation some particulars about it, 

 which were noted down the same night. It will be seen that they do not entirely 

 agree with M. Mulsant's statement of the means by which the light is extinguished, 

 to which Dr. Sharp has alluded in the present volume of the E. M. M., at p. 69. My 

 notes do not record the colour of the light, but, judging from recollection, I believe 

 that when viewed at a moderate distance it is very spark-like in appearance ; whereas, 

 if examined with a lens, the effulgence may be likened to that of the moon seen 

 through a telescope. 



The duration of each gleam of the light is from about i to about J of a second ; 

 and usually there are on an average 36 emissions a minute. The light throbs in the 

 luminous patches simultaneously, and is extinguished as a rule completely during 

 the intervals of the flashes ; but under certain circumstances it can be reduced to an 

 almost imperceptible phosphorescence without being quite put out. The hinder 

 patch can be darkened independently of the other, from which it is separated by a 

 transverse non-luminous band, and is slightly emarginate in the middle behind. In 

 sites exposed to the breeze the insects remain settled in places where shelter is 

 afforded them (e. g., in the lee of stones in the roadside heaps, or at the entrance of 



