The Glow-Worm 



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 continues, 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 ex- 

 tinctions, 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 fervour of its passionate splendour; 

 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 re- 

 kindling it at will; but there is one point at 



21 



