2l8 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



otic, and are often ornamented witli red or yellow and black colours. 

 None, or but very few, of the species exceed an inch in length. When 

 alarmed they fold their antennae and legs against the body, and re- 

 main motionless, as though dead ; many, also, at such times, bend 

 their abdomen downwards. 



This family comprises three types of form, of each of which we 

 possess a single English example ; thus forming the tj'pes of as many 

 genera. Several other species have been introduced into the British 

 lists, but incorrectly. 



The female of the English Lampyris is known by the ordinary name 

 of the glowworm (Jiff. 26. 2.) ; its "body is long, flat, and soft ; the 

 head small, and concealed by the thorax ; and the antennae and legs 

 short (having much the appearance of its larva (^g. 26. 7.) ; from 

 which, however, it is easily distinguished by the greater number of 

 antennal and tarsal joints). The males (Jiff. 26. l.), on the contrary, 

 are furnished with perfect wings and wing-covers, and very large eyes 

 (^/iff. 26. 3.). The light emitted by this insect from the extremity of 

 the underside of the abdomen (several of the terminal segments of 

 which are of a pale colour, indicating the extent of the luminous pro- 

 perty) is too well known to require description. It is a sluggish noc- 

 turnal creature, often observed during the summer months*, in 

 meadows, at the sides of roads, under hedges, &c. The males, which 

 may occasionally be observed hovering over the females in the twi- 

 light, are also attracted by the light of candles or lamps ; whence it 

 has been supposed by most naturalists that this luminosity is given 

 to the female, 



" To captivate her favourite fly, 



And tempt the rover througli the dark." 



MoNTCOMERT. 



As however, the males, as well as the pupa?, larvge, and even the 

 eggs, are slightly luminous, some authors have rejected this suppo- 

 sition ; but, as Latreille well observes, " on doit conclure que la sub- 

 stance phosphorique se developpe des le premier age." The glow- 

 worm possesses the curious property of causing its light to cease at 

 will. On this subject there are some interesting observations in the 

 chapter on luminous insects, in the second volume of the Introduction 



* Mr. Bree (Muff. Nat. Hist. No. 25. ) also states, in October and November; 

 but the light observed by him at such times most probably proceeded from larvEB 

 produced from eggs deposited during the preceding summer. 



