BRITISH FIRE- FLIES. 291 



their light, others are without this power. The 

 light of our English glow-worm is undoubtedly 

 under its control, as, upon handling the insect, 

 it is immediately put out. 



It would seem to take some little muscular 

 effort to produce the luminosity, as one was 

 observed to constantly move the last segment 

 of the body so long as it continued to shine. 

 The larva of the glow-worm is even capable of 

 emitting light, but not to be compared to that 

 of the developed insect. Both in its mature and 

 immature forms the Lampyris noctiluca plays 

 a useful part in the economy of nature. To the 

 agriculturist and fruit-grower it is a special 

 friend. Its diet consists almost wholly of small 

 shelled snails, and it comes upon the scene just 

 when these farm and garden pests are most 

 troublesome. 



British fire-flies have probably never yet 

 figured as personal ornaments to set off female 

 beauty. This is, and has long been, one of 

 their uses to the dusky daughters of the tropics. 

 They are studded about the coiled and braided 

 hair, and perform somewhat the same office as 

 the diamond for more civilized belles. Spanish 

 ladies and those of the West Indies enclose 



