BRITISH FIRE-FLIES. 293 



may not uncommonly be seen on field and 

 garden paths, and leaves a lovely train of 

 phosphorescent fire as it goes. This silvery 

 train glows in the track of the insect, sometimes 

 extending to twenty inches in length. In 

 addition to this, its phosphorescence is exhibited 

 by a row of luminous spots on each side its 

 body ; and these spots of pale fire present quite 

 a pretty sight when seen under favourable cir- 

 cumstances. It was stated that the light-giving 

 quality of the fire-flies might be designed to serve 

 them to see by ; but this fails to apply to the 

 little creature under notice, as it is without eyes. 

 There are still other British insects which 

 have the repute of being phosphorescent; 

 though these cases are not yet quite authenti- 

 cated. Among them are the male-cricket and 

 " daddy-long-legs," both of which are reported 

 to have been seen in a phosphorescent condition. 

 But if there is a dearth of phosphorescent land 

 creatures which are native, this has no applica- 

 tion to the numerous living lights of our Southern 

 British seas. Among marine animals the 

 phenomenon is more general and much more 

 splendid than anything which can be seen on 

 land, as witness the following picture by Pro- 



