THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE 97 



uncommonly be seen on field and garden paths, and 

 leaves a lovely train of phosphorescent fire as it 

 goes. This silvery train glows in the track of the 

 insect, sometimes extending to twenty inches in 

 length. In addition to this, its phosphorescence is 

 exhibited by a row of luminous spots on each side 

 its body, and these points of pale fire present quite 

 a pretty sight when seen under favourable circum- 

 stances. I have stated that the light-giving quality 

 of the fireflies might be designed to serve them to 

 see by; but this fails to apply to the little creature 

 under notice, as it is without eyes. 



IV 



OTTERS AT MIDNIGHT 



I HAVE stretched my length along a slab of rock 

 which margins the bank and recedes far under it. 

 The stream for the most part is rapid, but here 

 narrows to slow, black depth. Ever and ceaselessly 

 does the water chafe and lap among the shelving 

 rocks, and this, with the constant " drip," only 

 seems to make the silence audible. Fungi and 

 golden mosses light up my dark retreat. Never was 

 green more green, nor lichen tracery more ravishing. 

 Close-clinging and rock-loving is all life here. Water 

 percolates through the bank, and spreads its silver 



