THE GLOW-WORM 287 



groove for the insertion of the antennae. This double 

 eye, occupying almost the whole face of the insect and 

 contained in the cavern formed by the spreading peak of 

 the corselet, is a regular Cyclops' eye. 



At the moment of the pairing the illumination becomes 

 much fainter, is almost extinguished; all that remains 

 alight is the humble fairy-lamp of the last segment. 

 This discreet night-light is enough for the wedding, 

 while, all around, the host of nocturnal insects, lingering 

 over their respective affairs, murmur the universal mar- 

 riage-hymn. The laying follows very soon. The round, 

 white eggs are laid, or rather strewn at random, without 

 the least care on the mother's part, either on the more 

 or less cool earth or on a blade of grass. These brilliant 

 ones know nothing at all of family affection. 



Here is a very singular thing: the Glow-worm's eggs 

 are luminous even when still contained in the mother's 

 womb. If I happen by accident to crush a female big 

 with germs that have reached maturity, a shiny streak 

 runs along my fingers, as though I had broken some 

 vessel filled with a phosphorescent fluid. The lens show* 

 me that I am wrong. The luminosity comes from the 

 cluster of eggs forced out of the ovary. Besides, as 

 laying-time approaches, the phosphorescence of the eggs 

 is already made manifest through this clumsy midwifery. 

 A soft opalescent light shines through the integument of 

 the belly. 



The hatching follows soon after the laying. The 

 young of either sex have two little rush-lights on the 

 last segment. At the approach of the severe weather 



