Popular JDirttmiarj) at "Hmmatetf ^atttre. 263 



as late as the close of August, on dry banks, 

 about woods, pastures, and hedgerows, ex- 

 hibiting, as soon as the dusk of the evening 

 commences, the most vivid and beautiful 

 phosphoric splendour. The male insect is 



rather more than half an inch in length ; the 

 head is of a dun colour, the thorax margined 

 with dusky red, as are also the legs and the 

 edges of the segments of the body ; and the 

 wings are shorter than the body. The fe- 

 male is wingless, but in most other respects 

 resembles the male : the thorax is semicir- 

 cular ; the body is very soft, of an obkng 

 form, and pointed at the extremity. It 

 is hardly yet determined with certainty 

 whether the male Glow-worm is at all lumi- 

 nous ; but it is universally understood that 

 if it be, it is in a very slight degree. The 

 phosphorescent light emitted by the female, 

 and which can be increased or lessened at 

 will, proceeds from the abdomen, near the 

 tail ; it is of a yellow colour, with a very 

 slight cast of green. The larva, pupa, and 

 complete female insect scarcely differ per- 

 ceptibly from each other in general ap- 

 pearance, but the phosphoric light is strongest 

 in the perfect animal. The general idea 

 among naturalists is, that the light emitted 

 by the female is for the purpose of attracting 

 the other sex ; and in numerous instances 

 have poets availed themselves of so pleasing 

 a simile as " the Glow-worm's amorous fire," 

 to illustrate the pure intensity of that flame 

 which so often burns in a heroine's breast. 

 Dismissing the poetical metaphor, however, 

 we may observe that the Glow-worm is a 

 slow-moving, inactive insect, and its light 

 not perceptible in the day-time, even if 

 carried into a darkened room, unless the 

 creature is turned on its back, and put in 

 motion ; but as night advances, its lamp 

 again begins to burn. On this subject Mr. 

 Knapp remarks, that on a warm dewy 

 evening at the end of September he observed 

 on the house-bank multitudes of these small 

 evanescent sparks in the grass. " The 

 number of them and their actions, creej 

 away from our sight, contrary to 

 lifeless dulness observed in summer, sug- 

 gested the idea that the whole body had 

 availed themselves of this warm moist even- 

 ing to migrate to their winter station. A 

 single spark or so was to be seen some eve- 

 nings after this, but no such large moving 

 parties were to be discovered again. If we 

 conclude that the summer light of the glow- 

 worm is displayed as a signal taper, the 

 appearance of this autumnal light can have 

 no such object in view, nor can we rationally 

 assign any use of it to the creature itself, 

 unless, indeed, it serves as a point of union 



in these supposed migrations, like the leading 

 call in the flight of night-moving birds. 

 The activity and numbers of these insects, 

 in the above-mentioned evening, enabled 

 me to observe the frequent presence and 

 disappearance of the light of an individual, 

 which did not seem to be the result of will, 

 but produced by situation." [See LAMPY- 

 HIS : ELATER.] 



GLUTTON. (Giilo arcticus.) A carni- 

 vorous quadruped, of a very voracious na- 

 ture, and about the size of a large Badger ; 

 between which animal and the Polecat it 

 seems to be intermediate ; nearly resembling 

 the former in its general figure and aspect, 

 and agreeing with the latter as to its denti- 

 tion. The muzzle, beyond the eyes, is black- 



ish brown, covered with hard shining hair ; 

 between the eyes and ears runs a whitis 

 ash-coloured band or fillet ; the top of the 



sh or 



head and back are black-brown, the sides 

 inclining to a chestnut colour ; and the feet 

 are black. These animals are slow and 

 comparatively deficient in agility ; but they 

 are very persevering, determined, and cun- 

 ning. In the northern regions, both of the 

 Old and New World, they are said to be of 



SKOLt, OP OLOTTON. 

 (STJLO ARCTIC 08.) 



uncommon fierceness and strength, some- 

 times even disputing their prey with the 

 Wolf and Bear. They often proceed at a 

 steady pace for miles, hunting out weak or 

 dying animals, and stealing unawares upon 

 hares, marmots, birds, &c. They are said to 

 surprise the larger quadrupeds, such as the 

 Rein-deer and the Elk, as they lie asleep ; 

 and to tear the neck and throat in the same 

 manner as the Weasel. What they cannot 

 devour at once they are said to hide under 

 ground or in a hollow tree. They prefer 

 putrid flesh, and are extremely fetid. The 

 female brings forth two young at a litter 

 once a year. The fur is much used for muffs, 

 linings, &c. ; and the skins brought from 

 Siberia are much preferred to others, from 

 their being of a more glossy black. This 

 animal is also called the WOLVEKEXE. 



GLYCIPIIILA. A genus of Tenuirostral 

 birds belonging to the family Meliphairicke, 

 of which we may mention GLYCIPIIILA FUL- 

 VIFRONS, or the FULVOUS-FRONTED HONEY- 

 EATER. This species, Mr. Gould observes, 

 differs sufficiently from the true MeUphagi 

 to fully justify its separation into a distinct 

 genus. It prefers to dwell among the trees 

 that crown the low stony ridges, rather than 

 those growing on the lower lands or the 



