282 GLOW-WORM TRIBE. 



Great Stag-beetles, which are of a blackish -brown 

 colour, and betwixt two and three inches in length, are not 

 uncommon in several of the southern parts of England. 

 They fly slowly, nearly in an upright posture, and are 

 easily distinguished in their flight from all other insects. 

 They are produced from grubs, which live in the trunks 

 of decayed trees. 



3. BORER OR PTINUS TRIBE. 



Death-watch. Of this tribe, the most singular insect 

 that we know is called the Death-watch. It is of a dusky 

 colour, and about a quarter of an inch in length. In the 

 spring of the year it makes a noise which somewhat resem- 

 bles the ticking of a watch. This is done, at short inter- 

 vals, by beating its head against any hard substance, in 

 quick succession, for nine or ten times together. The 

 noise which these insects make is only a call, or signal, by 

 which the males and females are attracted to each other; 

 consequently, any superstitious notion or fear of its being 

 a signal of death, is in the highest degree absurd. 



4. GLOW-WORM TRIBE. 



There are several kinds of Glow-worms, but only one 

 of them, the Common Glow-worm, is found in the British 

 Islands. The male is winged, and the female destitute of 

 wings. It is the latter which is seen to shine in the sum- 

 mer's evenings, amongst grass on the sides of banks and 

 roads. The light in the female proceeds from the two last 

 rings of the abdomen, and in the male from four luminous 

 points. The utility of the bright light in the females is 

 supposed to consist in attracting the attention of the males 

 during the dark. The females lay a great number of eggs, 



