CHRYSIS, CHRYSIS. 
Generic Character. 
Os maxillis absque pro- 
boscide. 
Antenna filiformes, articulo 
prime longiore reliquis 
undecim bi'evibus. 
A bdomen subt us fornicatum , 
utrinque squama laterali. 
Anus dentatus aculeo sub- 
exserto. 
Ala planiE. 
Corpus auratum. 
I Mouth with jaws, without 
proboscis. 
Antenna filiform, Avith the 
first joint lengthened, the 
remaining eleven short. 
Abdomen arched beneath, 
with a lateral scale on 
each side. 
dentated : piercer sub- 
exserted. 
Wings flat. 
Body gilded. 
• 
The beautiful genus Chrysis is, in general, 
distinguished by a peculiar brilliancy of colour. 
The most common British species is the Chrysis 
ignitai which may justly be considered as one of 
the most beautiful of the European insects. It is 
about the size of the common window fly, and is 
of a rich, deep, gilded blue-green colour on the 
head and thorax, Avith the abdomen of the most 
brilliant reddish gold-colour: the wings are brown- 
ish, and the legs blackish-green: the body is ter- 
minated by four denticulations. This insect is 
often seen in the middle of summer, and generally 
