THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



Entimus imperialis, from its unparalleled mag- 

 nificence. 



A piece of one of the wing-cases of this beetle is 

 gummed to the slide now upon the stage. We look 

 at it by reflected light with a magnifying power of 

 130 diameters. We see a black ground, on which 

 are strewn a profusion of what look like precious 

 stones blazing in the most gorgeous lustre. Topazes, 

 sapphires, amethysts, rubies, emeralds seem here 

 sown broadcast; and yet not wholly without regu- 

 larity, for there are broad bands of the deep black 

 surface, where there are no gems, and, though at 

 considerable diversity of angle, they do all point with 

 more or less precision in one direction, viz., that of 

 the bands. These gems are flat transparent scales, 

 very regularly oval in form, for one end is rather 

 more pointed than the other; there is no appearance 

 of a footstalk, and by what means they adhere I 

 know not; they are evidently attached in some man- 

 ner by the smaller extremity to the velvety black 

 surface of the wing-case. The gorgeous colors seem 

 dependent in some measure on the reflection of light 

 from their polished surface, and to vary according 

 to the angle at which it is reflected. Green, yellow, 

 and orange hues predominate ; crimson, violet, and 

 blue are rare, except upon the long and narrow 

 scales that border the suture of the wing-cases, 

 where these colors are the chief reflected. 



If you have ever thought on the subject, you have 

 probably taken for granted that the various sounds 

 produced by insects are voices uttered by their 

 mouths. But it is not so. No insect has anything ap- 



