NOCTURNAL SCENES. 71 



ofLlnnrjiis. This insect does not existin Europe 

 but is to be found in Japan. The iampyris noc- 

 tiluca, or glow worm, is quite a different animal^ 

 and is the same in this country as in Europe : 

 The female is apterous, while the male is of the 

 coleoptera order, having four wings, and the up- 

 per wings crustaceous. The female emits the 

 light, and the male is guided by it to its paramour^ 

 This anomaly is striking. As the female has no 

 wrings and is confined to the earth, nature has fur- 

 nished her with a lamp to direct her winged part- 

 ner to the nuptial couch.* 



Next to the fire fly, the most striking nocturnal 

 object is the r ana jjijn ens or bull-frog. The roar 

 of this animal is unknown to a stranger. He is 

 unknown in Europe — and a repetition of the 

 coarse and lugubrious cry of these animals, res- 



* The following lines from SovUlipy's Madoc contain an excel 

 lent description of the American i'tre fly : 



Sorrowing we beheld 



The night come on ; but soon did nigiit display 

 More wonders than it veil'd : innumerous tribes 

 From the wood-cave swarm'd, and darkness made 

 Their beauties visiblo : one while they stream'd 

 A bright blue radiance upon flowers that close<l 

 Their gorgeous colors from the eye of day ;■ 

 jXow molio7,Itss and dark, eluded )>earchf 

 Self-shrouded : and anon. sUirring (he sin/. 

 Rose like n s/ioiver offlr^, ' 



