130 



larger than the male, and of a lighter colour. It is the 

 female that principally shines in a perfect state. Her 

 light is far superior to that emitted by the larva, and 

 arises from the three last rings of the body on the 

 lower side." 



The male, smaller than the female, is a winged in- 

 sect, and supplied with wing-cases ; and though Dr. 

 Shaw seems to doubt whether the male be luminous, 

 the fact is now sufficiently established. The male has 

 toward the anal segment two brilliant fire spots : its 

 light, when seen on the wing, is somewhat purplish. 

 In the Phil. Trans, for 1684, Mr. Waller maintains 

 the luminosity of the male, which was found by him at 

 Northaw in Hertfordshire. In Italy the belles adorn 

 their head-dress with the lampyris italica; and it 

 appears that a similar practice prevails in India. The 

 lampyris italica is figured in Olivier, No. 28., pi. 28., 

 fig. 12.: in truth, the male of the lampyris noctiluca 

 of this country bears so close a resemblance, that it 

 is not improbable the insect may be the same ; the 

 greater atmospheric temperature varying the intensity 

 of light in an Italian clime. Doubtless, too, what have 

 been distinguished as separate insects, under the names 

 lampyris noctiluca, spendidula, &c. are the females of 

 the same insect ; the one being the female perfect 

 insect, and the other the larva. In Lombardy, Tus- 

 cany, &c. we have picked up glow-worms in no respect 

 dissimilar from our own. 



The Italians have a superstitious dread of these 

 beautifully adorned insects ; believing them to be the 

 spirits of their departed ancestors. Sir J. E. Smith 

 mentions that some Moorish ladies were taken pri- 

 soners at sea, and, until they could be ransomed, 

 lived in a house beyond the city wa'ls of Genoa: 

 during the period of their stay, they were visited by 



