COLEOPTERA — BEETLES. 241 



we were gratified by their miniature illumination 

 every fine evening for several weeks. * I am inclined 

 to think that this pretty and curious insect might 

 he naturalized in a Vivarium, to which it would 

 impart a great additional interest. With this in- 

 tention, several females about to deposit their eggs 

 should be placed in the case; and if any were 

 hatched, it is most probable that they would be 

 reared successfully, affording a convenient oppor- 

 tunity of observing at what period of their develop- 

 ment the light was most brilliantly exhibited. Even 

 in the egg state, however, it is known that the 

 Glow-worm is already luminous, each egg appearing 

 like a little ball of phosphorus. The larva? even in 

 the young stages are also luminous, as I have stated 

 before; but De Geer asserts that the light of the 

 larvae is much paler. Even in the dormant epoch of 

 the pupa stage the phosphorescent effect is visible 

 at night; and thus the fable, which would have 

 elevated our little Glow-Avorm into an insect Hero 

 expecting her Leander, guided safely to her tower by 

 her never-failing beacon, entirely falls to the ground. 

 Her light, at all events, during her long, deep 

 nymphine sleep, can only be considered as a kind 

 of "night-light," while that of the equally drowsy 



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