JUNE. 143 



Cetonidw will please by their elegance, and the brilliancy 

 of their colours, in which green usually predominates ; the 

 English species, Cetonia aurata, or Rose-chafer, is probably 

 known to many of my readers : it frequents flowers. The 

 Silphidce, though less striking in form and colour, are 

 interesting from their habits, which render this family emi- 

 nently serviceable to man, and amply atone for their in- 

 feriority in beauty. None of our British Coleoptera indeed 

 can vie with those of tropical climates in the richness of 

 their colouring ; some of those are so splendid as to be worn 

 instead of precious stones, the brilliancy of their hues being 

 often greatly enhanced by a high degree of lustre, and 

 diversified markings. To many tropical Beetles might be 

 applied the words of the poet, who is thus describing the 

 birds which ornament the glowing landscape : 



" With their rich restless wings, that gleam 

 Variously in the crimson beam 

 Of the warm west as if inlaid 

 With brilliants from the mine, or made 

 Of rainbows.'' 



Brazil is the richest country in the world in Coleoptera, 

 and a recent French writer says, that " in the middle of 

 January they are seen in the greatest profusion ; the herba- 



