INSECTS : WINGS AJSTD THEIE APPENDAGES. 85 



dusted all over with a metallic powder of rich colours, 

 —red, brown, orange and yellow, foiled by dull lead- 

 grey in places. 



If you touch one of these nimble leapers, though 

 ever so lightly, you will see the result on your finger- 

 ends ; for they will be found covered with a thin stra- 

 tum of the finest dust, which displays the coloured me- 

 tallic reflection seen on the insect. By touching one 

 Avith a plate of glass instead of your finger, you will get 



BRIfiTLE-TAIL. 



(Slightly enlarged.) 



the same dust to adhere to this transparent mediuln, by 

 applying which to the microscope you may at once 

 discern the marvellous nature of the raiment with 

 which the little creature is bedecked. 



The dust is now seen to be composed of myriads of 

 thin scales, mostly regular and symmetrical in their 

 forms, though varying exceedingly among themselves 

 in this respect. Some are heart-shaped, some shovel- 

 shaped, some round, oval, elliptical, half round, half 

 elliptical, long and narrow, sometimes irregular and 

 unequal, and of various other undescribable outlines. 

 Perhaps the most common forms are ovate, heart- 

 shaped, and that of the pan of a fire-shovel. Each thin 

 scale has a minute foot-stalk, which is not connected 



