120 



VIEWS OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD. 



Fig. 191. 



Fig. 192. 



WINGS. The wings of insects afford curious and interesting objects for mi- 

 croscopical examination ; since in form and structure their diversity is endless, 

 and their rich adornments and exquisite hues are often surpassingly beautiful. 

 When magnified, a great number of minute joints are brought to view, by means 

 of which the gauze-like wings of many of these little creatures are at one time cu- 

 riously folded up within their shelly cases, and at another are instantly expanded 

 for flight ; while numerous branches of veins, nerves and muscles extend through- 

 out these delicate structures, conveying life, strength, and action to every part. 

 The hard and shell-like cases, under which these transparent wings are securely 

 folded, are usually highly polished, and are often adorned with elegant 

 flutings, and a rich diversity of splendid tints. The diamond-beetle possesses all 

 these beauties, and is regarded as one of the most brilliant objects in nature. 

 Its head, wings, and legs are studded with scales, glowing with the resplendent 

 colors of the sapphire, ruby, and emerald ; and it is said, that in Brazil, where 

 they are found, such is the dazzling splendor of their hues, that the eye cannot 

 endure their radiance as they fly in swarms through the air upon a sunny day. 

 In figure 193 the wing of an earwig is shown, of its natural size, and the same 

 is also there delineated as it appears when magnified. The upper part of 

 the large cut represents the wing-case, which is opaque and shelly ; while the 

 rest of the figure exhibits the greater part of the wing, which is thin and 

 transparent, and folds up neatly beneath the wing-case, which is not more than 

 one-sixth of the entire wing in size. Some of the ribs are seen radiating to the 

 border, like the sticks of a fan, from a small space in the upper part of the 

 wing, while others intervene of shorter length, and proceed from the margin 

 half way towards this central spot. All these ribs are connected together by a 

 band that runs along parallel to the margin ; the entire arrangement being evi- 

 dently contrived so as to impart, at once, strength and lightness to the wing, and 



