That pretty sparkler of our summer evenings, so often made the
ploughboy's prize, the only brilliant that glitters in the rustic's hat,
the glowworm, (_lampyris noctiluca_,) is not found in such numbers
with us, as in many other places, where these signal tapers glimmer upon
every grassy bank; yet, in some seasons, we have a reasonable sprinkling
of them. Every body probably knows, that the male glowworm is a winged,
erratic animal, yet may not have seen him. He has ever been a scarce
creature to me, meeting perhaps with one or two in a year; and, when
found, always a subject of admiration. Most creatures have their eyes
so placed, as to be enabled to see about them; or, as Hook says of the
house-fly, to be "circumspect animals;" but this male glowworm has a
contrivance, by which any upward or side vision is prevented. Viewed
when at rest, no portion of his eyes is visible, but the head is
margined with a horny band, or plate, being a character of one of the
genera of the order _coleoptera_, under which the 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. _See Figures_. 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.

Glowworms 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