The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



The proof is furnished by certain speci- 

 mens, by no means rare in the Golden Cryp- 

 tocephalus, in which the customary brown is 

 replaced by an unmistakable green, the sign 

 of a vegetable pulp. In course of time, these 

 green eggs turn brown and become like the 

 others, no doubt by reason of an oxidization 

 which alters the natural qualities of the di- 

 gestive product still further. The egg, en- 

 tering the cloaca in a soft and utterly naked 

 state, receives an artistic coat of the in- 

 testinal dross, even as the Hen's egg is cov- 

 ered by a shell formed of the chalky secre- 

 tions. 



Materiem superabat opus, nam Mulciber 



illic 

 JEquora celerat, 



said Ovid, in his description of the Palace 

 of the Sun. The poet had precious metals 

 and gems wherewith to build his imaginary 

 marvel. What has the Clythra wherewith 

 to achieve its ideal jewel? It has the shame- 

 ful material whose name is banished from 

 decent speech. And which is the Mulciber, 

 the Vulcan, the artist-engraver that engraves 

 the covering of the egg so prettily? It is 

 the terminal sewer. The cloaca rolls the 

 470 



