366 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



short, so that it cannot get up again like other beetles. But sud- 

 denly one hears a " click ", the beetle springs up into the air, and, 

 turning half round as it falls, comes down on its feet. Sometimes it 

 turns a little too far, and rolls over again. And then it gives 

 another " click ", and springs into the air a second time ; and so on 

 until it meets with success. 



The click-beetles have very large wings, and you may often see 

 them flying in the sunshine, and then settling on some sweet- 

 smelling flower. Most of them are dull brown and black in colour ; 

 but sometimes one finds a very beautiful one, with wing-cases of a 

 bright scarlet. 



THE GLOW-WORM (Family LAMPYRiDyE) 



One of the prettiest of the many pretty sights to be seen in the 

 country is the light of the Glow-worm. In the evening, about the 

 end of June or the beginning of July, we may see here and there 

 on banks, or by the edges of a path through the woods, a little 

 shining point of pale green light. If we stoop to see what causes 

 it, we find that the light proceeds from a small, soft-bodied, grub- 

 like creature of a dull grayish-brown colour, about half an inch 

 long, with six short legs. When we pick it up it feels cold to 

 the touch, and as soon as we handle it the light goes out. 



This is a glow-worm ; which, although it looks so much like a 

 grub, is a perfect beetle. It has no wings and no wing-cases that 

 we can see, for they are so very small and undeveloped that we do 

 not notice them. Yet it has quite completed its growth, and is as 

 perfect as the great water-beetle about which we have already 

 spoken. 



It is only the female glow-worm that is so like a grub. The 

 male has large wing-cases and a pair of powerful wings beneath 

 them, with which he can fly well. But, on the other hand, his 

 lantern is a very faint one, and he does not shine nearly so brightly 

 as his humble little mate. 



We do not know how this strange light is caused. Many people 

 have tried to find out, but no one has as yet succeeded in solving 



