52 COLEOPTERA. 



male is luminous ; and in Italy, the flying glow- 

 worm, Lampyris Italica, is so common, that, 

 according to Olivier, in a summer evening, soon 

 after sunset, the air is filled with them ; and, 

 as the darkness increases, they look like so many 

 falling stars. There is no walking in the mea- 

 dows in a fine summer-night, without being sur- 

 rounded by these sparks of fire, shooting in all 

 directions ; and appearing or disappearing, as 

 the insect is on the wing or at rest. The first 

 impression of such a scene is said to be beyond 

 description. 



The common glow-worm of this country is 

 a very sluggish insect, seeming to drag itself 

 along, rather than to walk. From the want of 

 wings it is denied the power of flight, and doom- 

 ed for ever to remain upon the earth. In the 

 summer, till the end of August, these little lamps 

 may be seen shining on dry banks, about woods, 

 in the meadows, or along the bottoms of our 

 hedges. There is but little difference in the ap- 

 pearance of the larva, chrysalis, and complete 

 female insect; but the light is strongest in the 

 latter. The eggs, which are as large as a rape- 



