of 



61 



shorter, according to circumstances : some 

 have been observed to continue their vibra- 

 tions for nearly half an hour without rest- 

 ing, suspending the action for not more 

 than an instant, as it should seem to take 

 breath. When one retires, another occupies 

 its place ; so that in a hive well peopled 

 there is never any interruption of the sound 

 or humming occasioned by this action, by 

 which it may always be known whether it 

 be going on or not. 



BEE-EATER. (Merops apiaster.} There 

 are many species of the genus Mcrops, all of 

 which are distinguished by their brilliant 

 plumage, and take their prey, consisting of 

 bees, wasps, gnats, &c., on the' wing, like the 

 swallow, and, what seems remarkable, with- 

 out being stung by them. The one we are 

 about to describe is among the most elegant 

 of the European birds, and, next to the 

 Roller and the Kingfisher, may be con- 

 sidered as the most brilliant in point of 

 colour. It is a native of the warmer parts 

 of Europe, particularly among the islands 

 of the Grecian archipelago, and of many 

 parts both of Asia and Africa ; but in the 

 north of Europe it is rarely seen. In shape 

 this bird resembles the halcyon tribe, and is 

 about the si/e of a blackbird. The bill is 

 slightly curved, sharp-pointed, rather long, 

 and black ; the irides bright red ; the crown 



of the head and upper parts of the neck 

 and back are of an orange-chesnut colour ; 

 the throat yellow, the scapulars, lower part 

 of the back, and wing-coverts pale yellow, 

 more or less shaded with an admixture of 

 red and green. The smaller quill feathers 

 are rufous chesnut, tipped with green ; the 

 larger sea-green with dusky tips ; the rump 

 and tail sea-green, the latter about three 

 inches long, the two middle feathers project- 

 ing, in a pointed form, to some distance 

 beyond the rest. The sides of the head, 

 above the eyes, and the whole under parts 

 are sea-green : from the corners of the bill, 

 on each side of the head, a black streak 

 passes across the eyes, curving downwards, 

 and nearly meeting the tips of a black 

 crescent placed across the snout, and sepa- 

 rating the yellow of that part from the sea- 

 green of the under parts. The legs are short, 

 and of a reddish-brown colour. It builds 

 in deep holes in the banks of rivers, forming 



a nest of moss, and laying from five to 

 seven white eggs. 



The INDIAN BEE-EATER (Mcrops 

 riridts) is about half the size of the common 

 or European Bee-eater, but the middle tail- 

 feathers are considerably longer. On the 

 upper port of the breast is a crescent-shaped 

 transverse mark, with the horns pointing 

 upwards ; the back and lesser covert-feathers 

 of the wings are of a parrot-green colour ; 

 the rump or coverts of the tail of a bluish- 

 green ; the breast and belly of a light green, 

 and the tail is green. The greater quills of 

 the wings ore dusky at their tips ; the centre 

 quills are of an orange colour, bordered with 

 green, and marked with black spots, the 

 extreme tips being orange; the interior quills 

 next the bock are wholly green ; the first 

 row of coverts above the quills is orange in 

 the centre, and green on the edges. The 

 bill is long and sharp- pointed, Iiaving a 

 downward incurvation ; the claws are pretty 

 strong i and the legs and feet of a dusky 

 brown colour. This species is a native of 

 Bengal, ports of Madagascar, &c. 



BEETLES. The insects composing the 

 order COLEOPTEHA, or Beetles, are almost 

 incredible in point of number, as may readily 

 be supposed when it is stated that between 

 70,000 and 80,000 species at present exist in 

 the cabinets of collectors. The singular 

 forms and brilliant colours of many of them ; 

 the size of their bodies ; the solid texture of 

 their integuments, which renders their pre- 

 servation comparatively easy ; and the 

 nature of their habits, which affords every 

 facility for their capture ; have combined to 

 render them objects of peculiar attention to 

 those who delight in the science of entomo- 



Among the beetle tribe some are very re- 

 markable for projections or horns growing 

 from the head and corslet. The species 

 found in warm climates are generally large 

 and of a formidable appearance, though by 

 no means noxious. They are mostly winged, 

 flying with much rapidity and force ; but 

 when on the ground their movements are 

 slow and heavy. The wings of beetles are 

 covered and concealed by a pair of horny 

 cases or shells, meeting in a straight line on 

 the top of the back, and usually having a 

 little triangular or semicircular piece, called 

 the ecutel, wedged between their bases. 

 Hence the order to which these insects be- 

 long is called Coleoptera, a word signifying 

 wings in a sheath. They are all produced 

 from eggs ; they then become grubs ; after- 

 ards they are changed into chrysalides ; 

 and lastly, the beetles, leaving their prisons, 

 sally forth as winged insects in full maturity. 

 The conversion of the first pair of wings 

 into elytra, or hard wing-cases, and the 

 complete inclosure of the second pair by 

 these, when the insect is at rest, constitute 

 the distinguishing features of the order. 

 The elytra, when expanded, are of little or 

 no use in flight, generally remaining nearly 

 motionless ; when closed, they meet along 

 the bock in a straight line, which is called 

 the suture. The body of the perfect insect 

 is oval, or nearly so, and the head is pro- 



