THE GLOW-WORM. 
207 
eyes are situate. This prevents all upward vision ; and 
blinds, or winkers, are so fixed at the sides of his eyes 
as greatly to impede the view of all lateral objects. The 
chief end of this creature in his nightly peregrinations 
is to seek his mate, always beneath him on the earth ; 
and hence this apparatus appears designed to facilitate 
his search, confining his view entirely to what is before 
or below him. The first serves to direct his flight, the 
other presents the object of his pursuit : and as we 
commonly, and with advantage, place our hand over the 
brow, to obstruct the rays of light falling from above, 
which enables us to see clearer an object on the ground, 
so must the projecting hood of this creature converge 
the visual rays to a point beneath. This is a very curi- 
ous provision for the purposes of the insect, if my con- 
ception of its design be reasonable. Possibly the same 
ideas may have been brought forward by others ; but, 
as I have not seen them, I am not guilty of any undue 
appropriation, and no injury can be done to the cause 
I wish to promote, by detailing again such beautiful 
and admirable contrivances. 
Glow-worms emit light only for a short period in the 
year ; and I have but partially observed it after the 
middle of July. I have collected many of these pretty 
creatures on a bank before my house, into which they 
retire during the winter, to shine out again when re- 
vived by the summer’s warmth; but in this latter sea- 
son, I have frequently missed certain of my little 
proteges, and have reason to apprehend that they form- 
ed the banquet of a toad, that frequented the same 
situation. 
Observing above, that the glow-worm does not emit 
light after the 14th of July, I mean thereby that clear, 
steady light, which has rendered this creature so re- 
markable to all persons ; for I have repeatedly noticed, 
deep in the herbage, a faint evanescent light proceeding 
from these creatures, even as late as August and Sep- 
tember. This was particularly manifested September 
the 28th, 1826. The evening was warm and dewy, and 
we observed on the house-bank multitudes of these 
small evanescent sparks in the grass. The light dis- 
