these pretty creatures on a bank before my house, into which they retire
during the winter, to shine out again when revived by the summer's
warmth; but in this latter season I have frequently missed certain of
my little protegés, and have reason to apprehend, that they formed the
banquet of a toad, that frequented the same situation.

Observing above, that the glowworm does not emit light after the 14th of
July, I mean thereby that clear, steady light, which has rendered this
creature so remarkable 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 September. 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 displayed was very different from that
which they exhibit in warm summer months. Instead of the permanent green
glow, that illumines all the blades of the surrounding herbage, it was a
pale transient spot, visible for a moment or two, and then so speedily
hidden, that we were obliged, in order to capture the creature, to
employ the light of a candle. The number of them, and their actions,
creeping away from our sight, contrary to that half lifeless dulness
observed in summer, suggested the idea, that the whole body had availed
themselves of this warm, moist evening, to migrate to their winter
station. A single spark or so was to be seen some evenings after this,
but no such large moving parties were discovered again. If we conclude,
that the summer light of the glowworm is displayed as a signal taper,
the appearance of this autumnal light can have no such object in view,
nor can we rationally assign any use of it to the creature itself,
unless, indeed, it serves as a point of union in these supposed
migrations, like the leading call in the flight of night-moving birds.
The activity and numbers of these insects, in the above-mentioned