Marvels of the Universe 1019 
In England we see very little of this curious seasonal change, for our winters rarely bring much 
snow. In Scotland, however, we may watch the whole process of change, for the Mountain Hare, 
the Stoat or Ermine, and Ptarmigan all assume white garments for the winter months, and 
farther north the Arctic Fox behaves in like manner. And in all these cases it will be noted the 
summer liveries are no less protectively coloured, and for the same reasons. That this assumption 
of a white livery is not entirely to be explained by temperature is amply demonstrated in the case 
of the Red Grouse, which, even in Scotland, does not turn white in winter, though for weeks it may 
have to burrow deep in snow to find its daily bread. Visitations of prolonged snow, however, in 
the haunts of the Red Grouse are rare; hence, no change is made. With the continental Willow 
Grouse, however, which is almost identical in plumage with our Red Grouse—save only in the 
wings—a white dress is annually assumed, as in the case of the Ptarmigan; and for the same 
reason—to wit, because a long winter and deep snow have to be faced. 
FIRE-FLIES 
THE Fire-fly is not a fly at all in the sense in which naturalists understand the word. Like our 
Glow-worm, that is not a worm, the Fire-fly is a beetle. Our forefathers went largely by casual 
appearance when bestowing names, and seldom troubled their heads about strict accuracy. The 
luminous insect of our lanes was always seen crawling on or near the earth, therefore it was a glow- 
worm. The luminous beetles of the tropics were mostly seen on the wing in the evening, therefore 
they were flies. 
Fire-flies are of several species, all inhabitants of tropical America, but the inhabitants do 
not bother themselves with 
the fine distinctions of the 
entomologist. To the native 
mind they are all cucwyos. 
The Fire-fly proper is a beetle 
about an inch and _ three- 
quarters long, in general form, 
as will be seen from our illus- 
tration, very much like our 
common click-beetles or skip- 
jacks, whose grub is the notori- 
ous wire-worm that tunnels 
our potatoes and renders them 
worthless. 
Its colour is a rusty-brown 
shading to black, and on the 
shield-shaped section of its 
body, popularly known as the 
head, but more analogous to 
shoulders, there are two oval, 
yellowish-white spots. These 
are two of the Fire-fly’s lan- 
terns, for it is these areas that 
give out a light like that of 
our glow-worm, but much more WINTER WHITENING. 
brilliant There is another In these photographs the Mountain Hare the Grouse, Ptarmigan and Stoat or 
- Ermine are all shown in winter dress, which again harmonizes with the now 
lantern on the under surface, prevailing snowy conditions. 
74 
