56 LAMPYRID^E — GLOW-WORxMS. 



May be this worm from shining in the night, 

 Borrow'd its name, shining like candle bright. 

 The cause is one, but divers are the names, 

 It shines or not, according as she frames 

 Herself to fly or stand; when she doth fly, 

 You would believe 'twere sparkles in the skie, 

 At a great distance you shall ever finde 

 Prepar'd with light and lanthorn all this kinde. 

 Darkness cannot conceal her, round about 

 Iler candle shines, no winds can blow it out. 

 Sometimes she flies as though she did desire 

 Those that pass by to observe her fire; 

 "Which being nearer, seem to be as great, 

 As sparks that fly when smiths hot iron beat. 

 "When Pluto ravish'd Proserpine, that rape. 

 For she was waiting on her, changed her shape, 

 And since that time, she flycth in the night 

 Seeking her out with torch and candle light.i 



The following anecdote is related by Sir J. E. Smith, of 

 the effect of the first sight of the Italian Glow-worms upon 

 some Moorish ladies ignorant of such appearances. These 

 females had been talien prisoners at sea, and, until they 

 could be ransomed, lived in a house in the outskirts of 

 Genoa, w^here they were frequently visited by the respect- 

 able inhabitants of the city: a party of whom, on going 

 one evening, were surprised to find the house closely shut 

 up, and their Moorish friends in the greatest consternation. 

 On inquiring into the cause, they found that some Glow- 

 worms — Pygolampis Italica — had found their way into the 

 building, and that the ladies within had taken it into their 

 heads that these brilliant guests were no other than the 

 troubled spirits of their relations ; of which curious idea it 

 was some time before they could be divested. — The common 

 people of Italy have a superstition respecting these insects 

 somewhat similar, believing that they are of a spiritual 

 nature, and proceed out of the graves, and hence carefully 

 avoid them.^ 



Cardan, Albertus, Gaiidentinus, Mizalduo, and many 

 others have asserted that perpetual lights can be produced 

 from the Glow-worm; and that waters distilled from this 

 insect afford a lustre in the night. It is needless to say 

 these assertions are without foundation.^ 



1 Theatr. I7is., p. 111. Topsel's Eist. of Beasts, p. 977. 



■■' Tour on the Continent, 2d. Edit., iii. 85. 



3 Browne's Vulg. Err., B. iii. c. 17. Works, ii. 531. 



