334 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



light in the night. Of that fact, however, I am 

 a little doubtful. All who have examined the 

 nests carefully, agree that it is very common 

 to see glow-worms in them. So far there need 

 be no doubt. But as to the notion that the 

 worms are used as lamps — I do not know 

 about that. Is it not more probable that the 

 glow-worms serve as food ? I should think so. 

 But a gentleman who has resided a long time 

 in the East Indies, where these birds are com- 

 mon, and who has had abundant opportunities 

 to learn their habits, thinks differently. Sup- 

 pose we let him tell his story: "Desiring," he 

 says, " to ascertain the truth in relation to the 

 common opinion here as to the use made of the 

 glow-worm in the sparrow's nest, I took advan- 

 tage of the absence of the birds, one day, about 

 four o'clock in the afternoon, and directed a 

 servant to prevent their return, while I exam- 

 ined their nest. I cut the nest open, and found 

 in it a full-sized glow-worm, fastened to the 

 inside with a peculiar kind of clay. Having 

 sewed up the division, I replaced the nest. I 

 looked at it on the following evening, and 

 found there another smaller-sized glow-worm, 

 with fresh clay, a little on one side of the spot 

 from which I took the former one. I after- 

 ward tried the experiment on three other nests, 



