GLOW-WORM. 151 



firag itself on by starts, or slight efforts as it 

 were. The male is smaller than the female, 

 and is provided both with wings and wing- 

 sheaths : it is but rarely seen ; and it seems, 

 even at present, not very clearly determined 

 whether it be luminous or not. The general 

 idea amoncp naturalists has been that it is 

 not, and that the splendour exhibited by the 

 female in this species, is ordained for the 

 purpose of attracting the male. 



In Italy the flying Glow-worm is ex- 

 tremely plentiful ; and we are informed by 

 Dr. Smith, and other travellers, that it is 

 a very common practice for ladies to stick 

 them by way of ornamefit in different parts 

 of their head-di-ess, during the evening hours. 



The common or wing-less Glow-worm 

 may be very successfidly kept, if properly 

 supplied with moist turf, grass, moss, &c. 

 for a considerable length of time ; and as 

 soop as the evening commences, will regu- 

 larly exhibit its beautiful effulgence, illumi- 

 nating every object within a small space 

 around it; and sometimes the light is so 

 vivid, as to be perceived through the box in 

 which it is kept. This insect deposits its 



