THE GLOW-WORM 283 



about 5 millimeters long, 1 I can plainly see the glimmer 

 on the blades of grass; but, should the least false step 

 disturb a neighboring twig, the light goes out at once 

 and the coveted insect becomes invisible. Upon the full- 

 grown females, lit up with their nuptial scarves, even 

 a violent start has but a slight effect and often none 

 at all. 



I fire a gun beside a wire-gauze cage in which I am 

 rearing my menagerie of females in the open air. The 

 explosion produces no result. The illumination contin- 

 ues, as bright and placid as before. I take a spray and 

 rain down a slight shower of cold water upon the flock. 

 Not one of my animals puts out its light; at the very 

 most, there is a brief pause in the radiance; and then 

 only in some cases. I send a puff of smoke from my 

 pipe into the cage. This time the pause is more marked. 

 There are even some extinctions, but these do not last 

 long. Calm soon returns and the light is renewed as 

 brightly as ever. I take some of the captives in my 

 fingers, turn and return them, tease them a little. The 

 illumination continues and is not much diminished, if 

 I do not press too hard with my thumb. At this period, 

 with the pairing close at hand, the insect is in all the 

 fervor of its passionate splendor, and nothing short of 

 very serious reasons would make it put out its signals 

 altogether. 



All things considered, there is not a doubt but that 

 the Glow-worm himself manages his lighting apparatus, 

 extinguishing and rekindling it at will; but there is one 



1 .I9S inch. Translator's Note. 



