12 
COLEOPTERA. 
PREPODES REGALIS. 
Plate VI. fig. 1. 
Tribe. Rhyncopiiora, Latreille. 
Family. Curculionidje, Leach. 
Division. Brachyderides, Schonherr. 
Genus. Prepodes, Schonherr. Circulio, Linn. Sfc. 
Species. Prepodes Regalis : oblongo ellipticus, niger, squamulis coeruleo-virentibus tectus, 
rostro subcarinato ; thorace supra impresso vitta media lateribusque cupreo-aureis ; 
elytris subtilius remote punctato-striatis, plaga baseos, fasciisque tribus flexuosis 
cupreo-aureis nigro-marginatis ornatis. Long. Corp. lin. 8. 
Prepodes : oblong-elliptical, black, clothed with greenish blue scales ; the thorax with 
a central streak, and the sides golden coppery; the elytra with a basal spot and 
three waved bands, coppery golden coloured, margined with black. Length 8 lines. 
Syn. Curculio regalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I. II. p. 616. Fabr. Syst. Eleuth. 2. 508. Oliv. 
Ent. V. 83, t. 1. f. 8, a, b. 
Prepodes (Callizonus, Olim.') regalis, Sch. Sp. Curcul. 2. p. 21. 
Donovan well observed that this species truly deserves the title regalis, being an 
aggregate of beauty and splendour : of the loveliest c cerulean, changing alternately to 
the deeper glow of the violet, to green, or the transitory sparkling of intermingled 
silver. Every space of blue is constantly contrasted with another of crimson, and 
which as the violet changes to blue or green, alters its aspect to a still more vivid 
expanse of gold. Each of those colours, the blue and red, are distinct; for an irregular 
space of black limits every spot and marking, and relieves the whole. As the effect 
of such a combination of colours in this comparatively small species is inconceivably 
splendid, and almost inimitable, one figure in the plate is intended to show the natural 
size, and to admit of more perfect delineation, another somewhat magnified is 
added also. 
This insect, which Donovan believed to be unique in Great Britain, was brought 
from France, in the collection of Mons. De C alone, and was in the possession of the 
author. Linnaeus met with it in one of the cabinets on the continent, and described it 
as a South American insect. In the works of Fabricius, its habitat is given “ in Indus ” 
On this authority Donovan introduced it amongst the insects of East India, but it was 
the practice of Fabricius, and the older authors, to employ the term “ in Indiis,” to 
designate the West as well as the East Indies. The real locality of this species is 
South America, Peru, and the island of Saint Domingo. 
