BEETLES. 61 



The Indian Cetonia. (Cetonia Inda.) 



One of the earliest Beetles which the wandering 

 naturalist meets on his exploring expeditions is the 

 pretty Indian Cetonia. Tab. II. Fig. 3. These little 

 creatures, clad in a modest copper-brown dress, and 

 covered with short hairs, are seen in the months of 

 April and May flying like bumble-bees for short 

 distances only and then alighting in the sand. Their 

 beauty and their early appearance very generally 

 awaken the pleasant anticipations of a tropical tem- 

 perature. 



Several years ago I made an excursion on the first 

 day of May with a young gentleman from Germany, 

 an enthusiastic amateur in Entomology and Natural 

 History generally, like most of the students of the 

 Old Country. All at once he stopped, bent down to 

 the ground and picked up one of these little Cetonias, 

 and, holdiug it up in his hand, he exclaimed in ecstasy, 

 as if addressing the dearest object of his heart: 



"Der erste Tag im Monat May 

 1st mir der gliicklichste von alien, 

 Dick sah ich, unci gestand dir frei 

 Am ersten Tag im Monat May, 

 Dass dir mein Herz gewogen sei. 

 Hat mein Gcstandniss dir gefallen, 

 So ist der erste Tag im Monat May, 

 Fur mich der gliicklichste von alien." 



