INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 11 



gistered in others figures which correspond with several 

 dates of the Christian era a . 



Nor has nature been lavish only in the apparel and 

 ornament of these privileged tribes ; in other respects 

 she has been equally unsparing of her favours. To 

 some she has given fins like those of fish, or a beak re- 

 sembling that of birds 5 ; to others horns, nearly the 

 counterparts of those of various quadrupeds. The bull c , 

 the stag d , the rhinoceros 6 , and even the hitherto vainly 

 sought for unicorn f , have in this respect many repre- 

 sentatives amongst insects. One is armed with tusks not 

 unlike those of the elephant^; another is bristled with 

 spines, as the porcupine and hedge-hog with quills h ; a 

 third is an armadillo in miniature; the disproportioned 

 hind legs of the kangaroo give a most grotesque appear- 

 ance to a fourth 5 ; and the threatening head of the snake 

 is found in a fifth k f It would, however, be endless to 

 produce all the instances which occur of such imitations : 

 and I shall only remark that, generally speaking, these 

 arms and instruments in structure and finishing far ex- 

 ceed those which they resemble. 



But further, insects not only mimic, in a manner in- 

 finitely various, every thing in nature, they may also 



a On the underside of the primary wings near the margin in Ar- 

 gynnis Aglaia, Lathonia, Selene, &c. 



b Empis, Asilus. 



c Onthophagus Taurus, Curtis Brit. Ent. t. 52. 



d Lucanus Cervus. e Oryctes. 



{ Dynastes Hercules. s Andrena spinigera. Melitta**c. K. 



b Hispa. 



i This insect belonged to the late Mr. Francillon, and was pur- 

 chased at his sale by Mr. MacLeay. Mr. W. S. MacLeay informs us 

 that he has given the name of Emceles to the group to which it 

 belongs. k RapAidia ophiopsis. 



