The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



larvae were running in a great flutter, re- 

 calling in some respects the tumultuous dis- 

 order of an overturned Ant-hill; others were 

 hurriedly climbing to the tip of a blade of 

 grass and descending with the same haste; 

 others again were plunging into the downy 

 fluff of the withered everlastings, remaining 

 there a moment and quickly reappearing to 

 continue their search. Lastly, with a little 

 attention, I was able to convince myself that 

 within an area of a dozen square yards there 

 was perhaps not a single blade of grass which 

 was not explored by several of these larvae. 

 I was evidently witnessing the recent 

 emergence of the young Oil-beetles from their 

 maternal lairs. Part of them had already 

 settled on the groundsel- and camomile- 

 flowers to await the 'arrival of the Bees; but 

 the majority were still wandering in search 

 of this provisional refuge. It was by this 

 wandering population that I had been in- 

 vaded when I lay down at the foot of the 

 bank. It was impossible that all these 

 larvae, the tale of whose alarming thousands 

 I would not venture to define, should form 

 one family and recognize a common mother; 

 despite what Newport has told us of the 

 Oil-beetles' astonishing fecundity, I could not 

 believe this, so great was their multitude. 

 92 



