272 



Crcatfurw cf 



GOLD-FISH. (Cyprinus auratus.) In 

 the fresh waters of China, we are told, cer- 

 tain beautiful species of Cyprinus, distin- 

 guished for the splendid golden colour of the 

 membrane lying immediately beneath the 

 scales, are as frequent as the most common 

 river fish are here. Nor, indeed, are they 

 at this time either rare or uncommon in our 

 own ponds, being quite naturalized, and 

 breeding freely in open waters. 



The colours of Gold-fish are liable to the 

 greatest variations : some are marked with 

 a fine blue, brown, or bright silver hue, but 

 the usually predominant colour is that of a 

 brilliant gold. As an article of food they 

 are not used, and are only valued for their 

 beauty and gentleness. 



GOLIATHUS (GOLIATH BEETLES). A 

 group of Lamellicorn Coleoptera, which are 

 chiefly found in Africa, the largest species 

 being indigenous to the western coasts. 

 These insects, which were formerly very 

 scarce, and some of which are still rare in 

 collections, have acquired their name from 

 the large size of some of the species. One of 

 the first specimens was found by Mr. Ogilvie, 

 surgeon of H. M. S. Renown, at least eighty 

 years ago. The specimen was dead, and found 

 floating in the river Gaboon ; it is now in 

 Glasgow, in the Hunterian Museum. 



MALE CACIQUE GOLIATH BEETLE 

 (OOUATHOS CACI00S.) 



The fine species figured above was believed, 

 by its describer, Voet, to be a native of South 

 America, and hence he called it Cacicus, 

 after the native chiefs of that country. 



The male differs from the female in the 

 armature of the head and in the structure of 

 the fore-legs, which are spineless on the out- 

 side, as is well shown in the figure. 



The elytra of the male of the GOI.TATHUS 

 CACICUS, are of a pearly satiny white, with 

 a black opaque spot on the shoulder ; the 

 crown of the head and the thorax being of a 



tawny yellowish brown, with black longi- 

 tudinal bands on the latter. 



These insects are said to be roasted and 

 eaten by the natives, who doubtless often 

 make a bonne bouche of what would gratify 

 many an entomologist. 



The males of these insects, we are informed 

 by Dr. Savage, are much more numerous 

 than the females ; and though the various 

 species of the group cannot be said to be 

 very abundant, yet they are so frequently 

 brought over now, that the large prices of 

 801. and even 50?., which used to be asked 

 for them, are now very much reduced ; fine 

 specimens, however, of some of the species 

 still fetch 5?. or 61. 



Separated from them by slight generic 

 characters, are two other groups, a male and 

 female of one of which are figured beneath. 



(3OL1ATBUS PO 



It is the GOLIATIITJS (MECYNORHINA) Poi.r- 

 PHEMUS ; of a dark green fiolour, banded 

 and spotted with white. The male and 

 female are very similarly marked, but the 



