THE GLOW-WORM. 207 



eyes are situate. This prevents all upward vision ; and 

 blinds, or winkers, are so fixed at the sides of his eyes 

 as greatly to impede the view of all lateral objects. The 

 chief end of this creature in his nightly peregrinations 

 is to seek his mate, always beneath him on the earth ; 

 and hence this apparatus appears designed to facilitate 

 his search, confining his view entirely to what is before 

 or below him. The first serves to direct his flight, the 

 other presents the object of his pursuit : and as we 

 commonly, and with advantage, place our hand over the 

 brow, to obstruct the rays of light falling from above, 

 which enables us to see clearer an object on the ground, 

 so must the projecting hood of this creature converge 

 the visual rays to a point beneath. This is a very curi- 

 ous provision for the purposes of the insect, if my con- 

 ception of its design be reasonable. Possibly the same 

 ideas may have been brought forward by others ; but, 

 as I have not seen them, I am not guilty of any undue 

 appropriation, and no injury can be done to the cause 

 I wish to promote, by detailing again such beautiful 

 and admirable contrivances. 



Glow-worms emit light only for a short period in the 

 year; and I have but partially observed it after the 

 middle of July. I have collected many of these pretty 

 creatures on a bank before my house, into which they 

 retire during the winter, to shine out again when re- 

 vived by the summer's warmth ; but in this latter sea- 

 son, I have frequently missed certain of my little 

 proteges, and have reason to apprehend that they form- 

 ed the banquet of a toad, that frequented the same 

 situation. 



Observing above, that the glow-worm does not emit 

 light after the 14th of July, I mean thereby that clear, 

 steady light, which has rendered this creature so re- 

 markable to all persons; for I have repeatedly noticed, 

 deep in the herbage, a faint evanescent light proceeding 

 from these creatures, even as late as August and Sep- 

 tember. This was particularly manifested September 

 the 28th, 1826* The evening was warm and dewy, and 

 we observed on the house-bank multitudes of these 

 small evanescent sparks in the grass. The light dis- 



