266 ENAMEL OF BEETLES. 



Here with the bright investitures of these "children of the 

 sun," have we not reached the climax, the ne plus ultra of 

 beauty and perfection in insect painting ? Can decoration any 

 further go ? 



Not probably in aught that addresses itself merely to the 

 eye ; but in the qualities of permanence, indestructibility, and 

 a greater prevalence of metallic lustre, even as a fine enamel is 

 superior to any other painting, so is the colouring of the moth 

 or butterfly, arrayed in plumelets, surpassed by that of 



" The beetle, panoplied in gems and gold." 



As well might we attempt to imitate on paper the hues of 

 sapphire, emerald, and ruby, as to convey by painting or de- 

 scription any adequate idea of those exotic jewels of the order 

 CoUoptera, which seem to bear upon their backs the produce 

 of the mine. This is alike beyond our province as our power; 

 but there are enough at home of gem-like beetles to tax our 

 talents at description, to show their poor sufficiency, and to 

 illustrate forcibly the undoubted fact, that " none can paint 

 like Nature." 



We have not, it is true, that Esterhazy of his tribe, the 

 Curculio regalis* with his coat of brilliant scales, likened to 

 " an illumination of all gems." Let him and his diamonded 

 compeersf adorn with their living lustre the mimosas of Brazil ; 

 we have at home our pretty little weevils of many colours 



* A single specimen of this beetle fetched at Paris 23. 

 t Diamond-beetles. . 





