A NOVEL FA VOURITE. 165 



most cunning inlay of gold or steel, would prove, if compared 

 with it, a rude, unsightly piece of workmanship. On the 

 back of the corslet, burnished green and gold are the prevailing 

 hues, while in front, on breast-plate, cuisse, and gauntlet, the 

 lustre of the precious metal is predominant, mingled with 

 changeable reflections of purplish crimson. But description 

 fails in doing justice to an array so brilliant. Let us proceed, 

 therefore, to its owner's character and habits, which are in all 

 respects consonant to his polished exterior. His gentleness 

 is in unison with his beauty, and he is no less distinguished 

 for taste and delicacy. No gross and greedy appetite defiles 

 his form or nature; for nothing coarser than honey or the 

 golden farina of flowers, moistened by the juice of fruits, 

 makes up his table of regalement. He loves, while yet in 

 freedom, to ride upon a sunbeam ; but would be content, when 

 once enthralled, to bask only in the sunshine and his mis- 

 tress's smile, to revel and to sleep upon a bed of roses. 

 What think you, ladies, of this our candidate for your especial 

 notice ? In proper and euphonious parlance, ' Cetonia aurata, 9 

 is the fitting appellation which he bears ; but to you, pro- 

 bably, if already known at all, he is more familiar as ' a nasty 

 beetle !' 



Yes, it is thus, doubtless, that, blinded (as some are for 

 their live-long day) by the morning mist of early prejudice, 

 you have been led to miscall even that beautiful creature, the 

 Rose or Golden Chafer; with a multitude of others scarcely 

 less worthy of admiring notice. 



We have now ourselves a pair of these pretty insects caged 

 in an open-worked basket, with serious intent to test the extent 

 of their longevity, said by Roesel to have reached, in an indi- 

 vidual of his own keeping, to the term (for an insect patriarchal) 

 of three years. As was done by the German naturalist, we 

 supply our captives, in addition to their favourite roses, with 

 fruit and sugared moistened bread, a fare with which they seem 

 by no means disposed to quarrel, any more than with each other, 



