82 



Marvels of the Universe 



The Glow-worm as an obvious beetle must be sought in appropriate localities in the month of 

 June. At that time we have known a lamp with a white globe, exposed to open windows in the 

 countrj', to attract the male Glow-worms in hundreds. They flew in and circled round the lamp — 

 possibly mistaking its light for that of an extra brilliant female — and then dropped upon the table- 

 cloth and, perhaps, called themselves names for being so easily deceived. 



.-rnife>- 



''*' itf] _J 



J'hoto by'} 



The female GIom 



-worm has no \vings. 

 luminous area, 



THE FEMALE GLOW-WORM 



and differs but slightly from the grub. The lighter patch towa 



[//. Haiti, F.E.S. 

 the tail is the 



vhich 



nore brilliant 



the fe 



ale tha 



SEA HORSES AND SEA DRAGONS 



BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.2.S., ETC. 



The " Sea-horse," and its near relation the Sea-dragon, are both cousins of the " Pipe-fish," and all 

 these are among the most remarkable of fishes, since their bodies are encased in a bony armour, and 

 they swim in an upright position, propelling themselves by rapid vibrations of the back-fin ! But 

 these peculiarities of structure and locomotion are soon forgotten in the contemplation of their 

 shape and the conditions of life which have determined it. 



The Pipe-fish must be taken as our starting-point. The long, tapering shape and the green 

 colour of the body play an important part in the life-history of this creature, for it lurks in beds of 

 long, grass-hke sea-weed, the blades of which it so closely resembles as to be practically indistin- 

 guishable therefrom. And thus it escapes the ej'es of prowling enemies, for escape by flight it 

 cannot, and it is too feeble to be able to offer active resistance. 



Nature has required to do but a very little modelling to fashion out of the body of the Pipe- 

 fish the still stranger " Sea-horse," which is remarkable among fishes in being able to use its tail 

 as a finger, to grip weeds and thus to come to anchor at will ; and when not thus in use, this wonder- 



