INSECT LAMPLIGHTERS 245 



be numbered among the most humble forms of 

 animal life. Whilst in Darwin's case his theory 

 was the result of many years' laborious work, in 

 the case of Wallace — still happily among us — 

 the thought came to him in a flash as it were, 

 without warning. So it comes about in all things 

 pertaining to Nature. One never knows, how- 

 ever modest the zealous worker may be, when or 

 how some broken chain may be riveted together 

 as the result of individual observation and 

 research, and each intelligent and painstaking 

 student may some day be of inestimable service 

 in helping to piece together some part in Nature's 

 story previously incomplete. 



To resume our story of the Glow Worm, the 

 larvae do not attain the adult state until the first 

 year's birthday has been passed. They are not 

 only interesting but useful creatures, and should 

 be much encouraged. Their food consists, as has 

 been mentioned in passing, of Snails, and for these 

 they appear to possess a veritable passion. Closely 

 examined, the larva is a remarkable little animal, 

 having upon the abdomen a kind of brush-like 

 apparatus, by means of which not. only is the 

 power of locomotion effected, but, through its 

 agency, the slime from the Snails with which it is 

 brought into contact is cleansed from the larva's 

 body. The luminosity of many other kinds of 

 animals might well occupy attention, and the 



