50 BUPRESTID/E — BURN-COWS. 



the Philippine Islands. These the ladies of Manilla keep as 

 pets in small bamboo cages, and carry them about with them 

 wheresoever they may go.^ 



Buprestidae — Burn-cows. 



Many species of the Bupreatidde are decorated with 

 highly brilliant metallic tints, like polished gold upon an 

 emerald ground, or azure upon a ground of gold; and their 

 elytra, or wing-coverings, are employed by the ladies of 

 China, and also of England, for the purpose of embroider- 

 ing their dresses.^ The Chinese have also attempted imita- 

 tions of these insects in bronze, in which they succeed so 

 w^ell that the copy may be sometimes mistaken for the 

 reality.^ In Ceylon* and throughout India, ^ the golden 

 wing-cases of two of this tribe, the Sternocera chrysis and 

 S. sternicornis, are used to enrich the embroidery of the 

 Indian zenana, while the lustrous joints of the legs are 

 strung on silken threads, and form necklaces and bracelets 

 of singular brilliancy. The Buprestis atlenuata, ocellata 

 and vittata are also wrought into various devices and trin- 

 kets by the Indians. The B. vittata is much admired among 

 them. This insect is found in great abundance in China, 

 and thence exported into India, where it is distributed at a 

 low price. ^ 



Mr. Osbeck saw in China a Buprestis maxima, which 

 had been dried, and to which were fastened leaden wings 

 so painted as to make them look like the wings of butterflies. 

 This artificial monster, he adds, was to be sold in the vaults 

 among other trifles.^ The B. maxima is set up along with 

 Butterflies in small boxes, and vended in the streets of 

 Chinese cities.^ 



So many species of the Buprestidae are clothed with 

 with such brilliant colors, that Geoffrey has thought proper 



1 Baird's Cyclop, of Nat. Sci. 2 jn^i 



3 Shaw's Zool, vi." 88. 



* Tennent, Nat. Hist, of Ceylon, p. 405. 

 5 Donovan, Ins of India, p. 5. 



* Donovan, Ins. of China, p. 13. 



' Travels, i. 384. s jbid., i. 331. 



