88 THE GLOW-WORM 



an idea which has been happily embodied by Moore, 

 in the following lines : — 



" For well I knew the lustre shed 

 From my rich wings, when proudliest spread. 

 Was in its nature lambent, pure 

 And innocent as is the light, 

 The glow-worm hangs out to allure 

 Her mate to her green bower at night." 



That this theory is not altogether fanciful, has 

 been proved ; for " Olivier frequently caught the 

 males, by holding the females in the palm of his 

 hand."* The light perhaps serves some important 

 purpose in the economy of the glow-worm ; for 

 it has been noticed before the insect has assumed 

 its perfect form, and while it was yet in the nympha, 

 and even in the larva state. 



In that admirable " Introduction to Entomology," 

 to which I have on more than one occasion already 

 referred, I find the following passage relative to the 

 insect now under consideration : — 



"If, living like me in a district where it is rarely met 

 with, the first time you saw this insect chanced to be, 

 as it was in my case, one of those delightful evenings 

 which an English summer seldom yields, when not a 

 breeze disturbs the balmy air, and " every sense is 

 joy," and hundreds of these radiant worms, studding 

 their mossy couch with mild effulgence, were pre- 



* Entomologia Edinensis, p. 206. 



J 



