THE FIRE FLT„ 
3 8 9 
Genus XIX. — Lampyru. The Fire Fly. 
These infe&s are characterised by filiform antennae, 
flexible elytra, a round flattened thorax, furrounding and 
concealing the head ; the females are, in melt fpecies, 
without wings J. It is the female of one fpecies of thefe 
infe&s that is in this country termed the glow-worm, 
from that phofphorefcent light which it emits during 
night. Two or three of thefe animals inclofed in a glafs 
vafe, will give a light fufficient to enable a perfon to read 
in the darkefl. night. 
This lingular phenomenon is obferved moft frequently 
in the month of June, when the animal is in motion. 
The female can withdraw or difplay this light at plea- 
fure, by contracting or unfolding her body ; her purpofe 
in (hewing it is faid to be in order to attract the male. 
When crulhed with the hand, this luminous fubltance of 
the glow-worm adheres to it, and continues to fliine till 
ft is dried up. 
The noftiluca, or glow-worm, in its ir.feCt form, pof- 
feffes elytra, and wings under them, longer than the body- 
The head and antenna; are black ; the former entirely 
concealed by the broad plate of the thorax. The four 
ring? of the abdomen, which emit the light, are in 
the male not fo bright as thofe of the female, and are 
nearly dellitute of that luminating quality which renders 
her fo remarkable %. 
t Syft. Nat. p. 643. 
| Barbut, p. 6a. 
