402 INSECTS ABROAD. 



Thi-. genus Thyreodon extends over a considerable portion of 

 the globe. 



The hue insect wliicli is here shown is a native of Brazil, and 

 is one of the largest as well as the most beautiful of the genus. 

 The head is black, and the thorax appears at first to be of the 

 same colour, but is in reality of the richest and deepest purple, 

 with a velvet-like surface. The abdomen is black. It is much 

 compressed, and is attached to the thorax by a curiously long 



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Fig. 197.— Thyreodon cyaneus. 

 (Black ; Avings glossed with purple.) 



and curved footstalk. The wings are singularly lieautii'ul, luMug 

 dark brown glossed with purple, and shining like mother-of- 

 pearl. 



There are many species of Thyreodon in the British Museum. 

 Another Brazilian species has the wings bi'own, with a large 

 pale yellow spot in the middle of each ; and one which inhabits 

 China has the wings glossed with a beautiful golden yellow. 



Among all the larger Ichneumon Flies there are none that 

 surpass in beauty the species which is figured ou the next page, 

 and very few that even approach it. 



There is nothing very remarkable about the body, which is 

 black, as are the head and thorax. The legs are also black, 

 except the basal half of the tibia, which is yellow. The chief 

 beauty of the insect lies in its wings, which are coloured in a 

 most gorgeous fashion. As is the case with so many oi' these 

 insects, the wings appear to l)e plain lnnwii when vit'.wed with 



