A SPLENDID SIGHT. 



415 



have been described and catalogued as belonging to two different 

 species. It is curious to see how analogies hold good in zoology. 

 The Ruby-tails have been aptly compared to the Humming 

 Birds, and the rule holds good with the insects as with the birds, 

 namely, that the two sexes are so differently coloured that they 

 may readily be taken for distinct species. 



As our British Chrysididse are tolerably numerous and are so 

 brilliant in colour, it is but natural to conclude that the foreign 

 Chrysididse — especially those within the tropical belt — would be 

 many in number and exceed our own species in point of beauty. 

 This however is not the case, for there are but few exotic 

 Chrysididse, and scarcely any of them exceed our own lovely 

 Euby-tails in size or brilliancy of colour. Even in tropical 

 America, whence come so many of the most dazzling insects 

 in the world, scarcely any Chrysididse have been discovered. 

 I have, therefore, only selected two species as types of foreign 

 Chrysididse. 



Of course there may be yet undiscovered species, for, as we 

 have seen from M. St. Fargean's interesting account, hundreds 

 of Euby-tails may be assembled within a few square feet at 

 10 a.m., and at noon not one will be seen on the very spot 

 which was but a short time before a blaze of living jewels. 



The insect which is here represented belongs to the genus 

 Stilbum. This word is formed from the Greek, and signifies 

 " polished," or " glittering." 



Just a hundred years ago Fabricius described the splendid 

 insect which is here figured, 

 mentioning it under the title 

 of Chrysis splcndida. It is 

 an Australian insect, and is 

 remarkable not only for its 

 size but its beauty, which 

 fully deserves the name of 

 splendid. The head is eme- 

 rald-green, as is the thorax, 

 and both are washed with a 

 tinge of azure. The abdomen 

 is of the richest blue, glossed with green and purple; and the 

 whole of the head, thorax, and body is covered with bold and 



Fio. 207. — Stilbum splendiduni. 

 (Azure, glossed with green.) 



