224 



INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



Male and female glow-worms. Male winged, female wingless. 



Head of male glow-worm. 



recently verified in several instances the facts first 

 stated by Baron de Geer, " that this insect shines in 

 its infant state, in that of larva, and even after it has 

 taken the form of a nymph. Now, as in the first of 

 these states it cannot propagate, and still less in the 

 second, with what design is the light displayed ? It 

 must serve some purpose yet unknown. The authors 

 who have spoken of the male glow-worms say posi- 

 tively that they shine in the dark as well as females*." 

 We have in two instances observed this luminosity 

 of the male, which however is much more feeble 

 than that of the female. Ray first discovered this 

 * De Geer, Memoiresj iv. 44. 



