86 WEEVILS. 



black thorn, is a little fellow, with a coat of green verditer 

 sometimes glossed with gold. From its bright and unusual 

 colouring, this tiny beetle can hardly, we think, be otherwise 

 than known to many; who may have observed also that 

 "family feature" of a prodigious beak or snout, which will 

 serve as an index to the rest of its members. 



We might add a score of others to our list of pretty English 



Beetles ; but we shall conclude it with some insects of ex- 



7 



cellent beauty the " Cardinals,"* which assembled last 

 month, and are still to be found sitting in conclave on the 

 white blossoms of the hawthorn, with which their scarlet 

 robes and black stockings form a striking contrast. Now 

 only let our readers make acquaintance for themselves with 

 all or some only of the insect individuals which we have en- 

 deavoured to introduce, and if, after .having done so, there be 

 any yet among them determined to class every beetle under 

 the ill-applied epithet of " nasty creature ;" why then we must 

 condemn them as incorrigible offenders against good taste, 

 and would at once transport them to Brazil, or China, the 

 Indies, the Cape, or even to the penal settlements of Austra- 

 lia, where they would have an opportunity of beholding beetle 

 gems vying with the emerald, the amethyst, the ruby, and the 

 diamond ; and learn, perhaps, to estimate some of the very 

 jewels which, in only diminished lustre, they have trodden 

 under foot at home. 



* Pyrochroa coccmea (Cardinal Beetle.) 



