91 
[September, 
recognise the species when I caught it, or I might doubtless have secured more. I 
cannot find it recorded from this locality before, although I hear that Mr. Moncreaff 
has also taken it. — Edward Saunders, Holmesdale, Upper Tooting: August llth, 
1880. 
On the phosphorescence of the Gloic-worm. — In reading Dr. Sharp’s note on the 
European Firefly in the August number, p. 69, on the interruption of light, as 
described by MM. Perroud and Arias, in the above species, it occurred to me that 
I have observed a similar interruption in the light of our common Glow- worm. I 
had a fine female sent me for identification some time ago, and I turned her out on my 
grass plot, she concealed herself during the day and at night came out and exhibited 
her light; I have stood over her with a lamp to see if the sti’ong light which it gave 
would have any effect upon her, but so far as I could see it had none. While "watching 
her I observed that she was turned half round, that is, the posterior segments were 
turned half round so as to bring the inferior surface uppermost, and thus exhibit the 
light, or rather lights, for the phosphoric light emanates from two of the abdominal 
rings leaving a distinct line between the two light-giving spots. 
The insect will remain in the position above described for two or three or more 
minutes, and then turn herself, or rather the abdominal half, round on the other side 
so as to throw the light in another direction. When she has remained in this position 
without attracting a mate she will again reverse the light, and try again in another 
direction, by this means the observer sees an intermittent light ; I watched this 
insect for several nights and observed that she proceeded in the same manner on each 
night. This will account for the disappearance of the light at certain times, and 
its re-appearance. — Edward Parfitt, Exeter: July 31s£, 1880. 
Notes on the intermittent light of Luciola lusitanica. — In returning by the high 
road from Sacavem to Lisbon in the evening of April 24th, the sight of a few fire- 
flies upon the wing recalled to mind a discussion at the Meeting of the London 
Entomological Society in February last, concerning the manner of their giving light. 
I therefore stopped to ascertain by careful observation some particulars about it, 
which were noted down the same night. It will be seen that they do not entirely 
agree with M. Mulsant’s statement of the means by which the light is extinguished, 
to which Dr. Sharp has alluded in the present volume of the E. M. M., at p. 69. My 
notes do not record the colour of the light, but, judging from recollection, I believe 
that when viewed at a moderate distance it is very spark-like in appearance ; whereas, 
if examined with a lens, the effulgence may be likened to that of the moon seen 
through a telescope. 
The duration of each gleam of the light is from about i to about £ of a second ; 
and usually there are on an average 36 emissions a minute. The light throbs in the 
luminous patches simultaneously, and is extinguished as a rule completely during 
the intervals of the flashes ; but under certain circumstances it can be reduced to an 
almost imperceptible phosphorescence without being quite put out. The hinder 
patch can be darkened independently of the other, from which it is separated by a 
transverse non-luminous band, and is slightly emarginate in the middle behind. In 
sites exposed to the breeze the insects remain settled in places where shelter is 
afforded them ( e . g., in the lee of stones in the roadside heaps, or at the entrance of 
