EMERALD WING. 
201 
and broad white umbels of a gigantic species of 
Archangelica, and where Solomon’s-seal, and Trol- 
lius orientalis, grow in the wildest profusion. A 
long, grey Lixus, or snout-beetle, bores into all the 
stems of the Archangelica, drilling round holes 
with his cylindrical snout. Here Buckley found 
an “ emerald wing,” the el5rtron, or wing-cover, of 
a genus of Buprestidse, or gold-beater, which was 
greatly admired by the coleoptero-maniacs. Every 
man of them is desirous of obtaining the perfect 
insect. Some go north, and some south. The 
plains are scoured, the mountains climbed, and the 
valleys searched ; but all their researches are in 
vain. Tis not in mortals to command success.” 
I think it rather hard that unsuccessful efforts are 
usually consigned to oblmon. Successful results 
are triumphantly set forth. The discovery of new 
genera — the detection of beautiful forms for the 
O 
first time brought to light by the insect-net or the 
dredge — are duly recorded with pride and gratifica- 
tion ; but who shall chronicle the failures, the keen 
disappointments, the labour throvTi away, and the 
