NOCTURNAL SCENES. 71 



ofLinncens. This insect does not existin Europe 

 but is to be found in Japan. The lampyris 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 ittoits paramour. 

 This anomaly is striking. As the female has no 

 wings 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 rana pipiens 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 Southej's Madoc contain an excel' 

 lent description of the American fire fly : 



Soi rowing- wc beheld 



The night come on ; but soon did night display 

 More wonders than it vcil'd : innumeroas tribes 

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

 Their beauties visible : one while they stream'd 

 A bright blue radiance upon flowers that closed. 

 Their gorgeous coloi's from tlie eye of day i 

 JVotv nwlio)iIess mid dark, eluded search, 

 Self-shrouded : and'anon, starring fhe ah^, 

 Hoi€ iil-e a skowerofjire. 



