The Descent of Man

authors that the light serves to frighten away
enemies, and by others to guide the male to the
female. At last, Mr. Belt (12. 'The Naturalist in
Nicaragua,' 1874, pp. 316-320. On the phosphorescence
of the eggs, see 'Annals and Magazine
of Natural History,' Nov. 1871, p. 372.)
appears to have solved the difficulty: he finds
that all the Lampyridae which he has tried are
highly distasteful to insectivorous mammals
and birds. Hence it is in accordance with Mr.
Bates' view, hereafter to be explained, that many
insects mimic the Lampyridae closely, in
order to be mistaken for them, and thus to escape
destruction. He further believes that the
luminous species profit by being at once recognised
as unpalatable. It is probable that the same
explanation may be extended to the Elaters,
both sexes of which are highly luminous. It is
not known why the wings of the female glowworm
have not been developed; but in her present
state she closely resembles a larva, and as
larvae are so largely preyed on by many ani-