JUNE. 143 



Cetonida will please by their elegance, and the brilliancy of 

 their colours, in which green usually predominates; the 

 English species, Cetonia mirata, or Eose-chafer, is probably 

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

 Silphida, 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 di- 

 versified markings. To many tropical Beetles might be 

 apphed 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 Coleopteray 

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

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



