304 .THE GLOWWORM. 



but in this latter season, I have frequently missed 

 certain of my little proteges, and have reason to 

 apprehend that they formed the banquet of a toad, 

 that frequented the same situation. 



Observing above, that the glowworm does not 

 emit light after the 14th of July, I mean thereby 

 that clear, steady light, which has rendered this 

 creature so remarkable 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 September. This was 

 particularly manifested September the 28th, 1826. 

 The evening was warm and dewy, and we ob- 

 served on the house-bank multitudes of these small 

 evanescent sparks in the grass. The light dis- 

 played was very different from that which they 

 exhibit in the warm summer months. Instead of 

 the permanent green glow that illumines all the 

 blades of the surrounding herbage, it was a pale 

 transient spot, visible for a moment or two, and then 

 so speedily hidden that we were obliged, in order 

 to capture the creature, to employ the light of a 

 candle. The number of them, and their actions, 

 creeping away from our sight, contrary to that half 

 lifeless dulness observed in summer, suggested the 

 idea that the whole body had availed themselves of 

 this warm, moist evening, to migrate to their 

 winter station. A single spark or so was to be 

 seen some evenings after this, but no such large 



