142 PHOSPHORIC INSECTS. 



candle,, the light reappears, and, strange to say, is 

 not extinguished in thirty-six hours." He adds 

 to this, " It is in vain that I endeavoured to make 

 it appear again by the same process ; this singular 

 phenomenon seems only to take place once" 



This observation seems to be a complete repre- 

 sentation of phosphorescence after insolation, such 

 as we observe in mineral substances. It would 

 certainly be interesting to ascertain whether solar 

 light has any influence upon the phosphorescence 

 of glowworms. We must not forget, however, 

 that the luminous substance of the glowworm is 

 capable of shining for some time after death. If 

 M. Roberts was not aware of this, his observation 

 cannot have much weight. 



I must register here an interesting experiment 

 made some years ago by Dr. Lallemand : One 

 fine summer evening, M. Berard, of Montpellier, 

 had invited to his house a number of professors 

 and naturalists. Dr. Lallemand, who was present, 

 caused them to witness a very curious phenome- 

 non. He placed upon his hand a female glow- 

 worm (Lamypris noctiluca), and stretched his arm 

 out of the drawing-room window, which opened 

 into the garden. Very few instants elapsed be- 

 fore a male Lampyris flew into the doctor's hand 

 and immediately coupled with the vermiform fe- 

 male which he held. But as soon as the act was 

 accomplished, the light of the female was extin- 

 guished completely. 



