vastly IRREGULAR
intervals; sometimes in very quick succession, sometimes less
frequently--from which observation, we concluded that this
dispensation of his rich endowment did not proceed from any motion of
the _fluids_ in the animal economy, analogous to our own
circulation--it being far too irregular and inconstant to depend on
any such regulated movement. On removing the head of a _Lucciola_,
this intermitting light _immediately_ ceased; but the other--the
permanent, steady, and equable light--remained unchanged, and was not
extinguished for from _sixty to seventy hours after the death of the
insect_, unless the body was immersed in oil or alcohol, which
extinguished it presently. We found, that though oil and alcohol
quickly extinguished the light, it became suddenly much brighter when
fading, by plunging the insect into hot water; but we did not find
that it could be restored when it had once _entirely_ ceased, by this
or any other means, as some French naturalists have affirmed; and as
to its exploding a jar of hydrogen, as others have written, we
disbelieve it, because the temperature of the insect is far too low.
We think, then, for the present, that there are two distinct
repositories, or two different sources, of light in the fire-fly; and
that while _one_ depends on the _head_, and is a strictly _vital
phenomenon_, the other is altogether independent of any physiological
law of the nervous or circulating system.

* * * * *

We have a great respect for _ants_; but we do not go the length of
some of their historians, or believe them to be, any more than
ourselves, _infallible_. We have seen a laborious ant (_magni Formica
laboris_) tugging a snail-shell (for some reason only known to
himself) up a hill, stopping to take breath, and going cheerily to
work again till he had nearly accomplished his ascent, and found
himself on the very edge of its summit. Here he has been surrounded by
friends, officious busy-bodies, who, _intending_ no doubt to help him,
have got _into_ the shell, in place of lending him a hand, till their
added load was too much, and the unfortunate ant has been obliged to
loose its hold and let them go, shell and all! Then off they would
send, very much frightened no doubt at the overturn; while he, having
remained stationary a moment as if to watch its results, takes his
resolution, and proceeds on his journey without his load. In brushing
the grass for insec