16 INSECTS AT HOME. 



At Fig. b of Woodcut II. is shown the head of this insect, 

 magnified some six diameters, in order tc show the extremely 

 formidable jaws with which it is armed. These jaws are not 

 only sharp at their points, and strongly curved, but are boldly 

 toothed ; so that when the Beetle has once seized its prey, the 

 unfortunate insect has but little chance of escape. 



The colour of this beautiful beetle is gold-green above, and 

 shining copper-green below ; and there are several yellowish 

 spots on the elytra, varying much in shape, number, and hue. 

 Sometimes there are only three, but in many specimens there 

 are six. In former times, the variety in the number of spots 

 was thought to indicate that the Beetles belonged to different 

 species, but it is now decisively ascertained that they are only 

 varieties of one single species. 



When this Beetle is casually examined, the elytra and liead 

 ieevQ. to be merely dull green, but when a powerfid light is 

 brought to bear on them, and they are placed under a trust- 

 worthy lens, they absolutely blaze with •jm-like hues, so that 

 the e5''e is almost dazzled with their splendour. Scarcely any 

 two specimens are exactly alike, but in all there is a brilliant 

 metallic resplendence, sometimes as of pale gold, and some- 

 times as of red gold. 



If the wing-cases be opened, and the broad membranous wings 

 sp]'ead, the upper surface of the abdomen is seen to be deep 

 shining blue, very much like the colour of the ordinary ' blvie- 

 bottle ' fly. As the Beetle darts through the air in the sunshine, 

 the light glitters on the burnished blue surface, a circumstance 

 which has earned for the Beetle the popular name of Sparkler. 



One peculiarity of this insect is the strong but pleasing- 

 scent which it emits. I well remember the first time that I 

 saw and captured this Beetle. It was on a sandy bank in 

 Bagley Wood, near Oxford, and I could not for some time 

 guess the origin of the pleasant, sweet-briar sort of scent whicli 

 clung to my hands. For some time I thought that I must 

 have grasped some fragrant herb, and it was not until I had 

 taken the Beetles out of the box (where, by the way, nearly 

 one half had been killed and partly eaten by the other half) 

 that I discovered the real source of the perfume. 



The habits of all the species being very similar, we will pass 

 to another insect belonging to tlie same genus. 



