368 Microscopical Essays. 



mind a deep fenfe of that wifdom, which is manifefted in fuch 

 various ways through the whole works of creation. 



The delicate tranfparent wings of many in feels are covered and 

 protected by elytra, or cafes, which alfo in fome meafure aft as 

 wings. — Thefe 



" A two-fold apparatus mare, 



Natives of earth, and habitants of air ; 

 Like warriors flride, opprefs'd with mining mail 3 

 But furl'd beneath their filken pennons veil : 

 * Deceiv'd, our fellow reptile we admire, 

 His bright endorfement, and compact attire ; 

 When lo ! the latent fprings of motion play, 

 And riling lids difclofe the rich inlay ; 

 The tilfued wing it's folded membrane frees, 

 And with blithe quavers fans the gathering breeze.* 



The exterior cafes are harder and more opake than the under 

 ones ; they are generally highly poliihed, and often enriched 

 with various colours, adorned with ornamental flutings, and 

 fiudded with brilliants. All thefe ornaments are united in the 

 curculio imperialis f (or diamond beetle), one of the moll 

 refplendent creatures in nature; the head, the wings, the legs, 

 &c. are curioufly befet with fcales of a moft brilliant view, out- 

 vying the ruby, fa phi re, and emerald. It is faid, that in the 

 Brazils, from whence they come, it is almoft impoffible to look at 



them 



* Brooke's Univerfal Beauty. 



t Fabricius Spec. Inf. 184, 129.— -Drury. Inf» 2 Tab, 33, Fig. 1. 



