

LUMINOUS INSECTS. 161 



modest radiance of the glowworm; the planetary bodies, for 

 ever wheeling in their orbits, are better represented by the 

 restless fire-fly ; whilst the streaming meteor and blazing 

 comet find their protot}^pes in the brilliant Fulgorce, or Lan- 

 tern-carriers, as described shooting in eccentric courses across 

 the gloom of tropic skies. 



Then, for the luminaries of the world considered morally, 

 we shall be at no loss to find symbolic parallels in the varied 

 qualities, habits, and localities of luminous insects. Our little 

 English glowworm, as she glimmers on her mossy bank, how 

 well, to borrow the words of a late lamented poet,* does she 

 serve to represent those quiet Christian spirits, who 



" in humble trust 



Shine meekly 'mid their native dust, 

 The glowworms of the earth!" 



And if, as opposed to these modest " lights," we desire cor- 

 respondents for the "stars" of the world, we may scarcely 

 find more apt ones than in the great lantern-flies, the radiant 

 uproarious night-singers, the scare-sleeps of Guiana, bearing 

 aloft their fiery flambeaux, like torches of noisy revellers, and 

 grating on the " ear of night " by the harsh music of their loud 

 discordant cymbals. 



The attention of philosophers was in very early ages directed 

 to various phenomena resulting from the properties of light, 

 and, amongst others, the remarkable phosphoric appearances 



* "Wordsworth. 



