1 20 COLEOPTERA, 
power of flying. Though it is generally 
late in the evening when they take wing, 
I had the pleasure of seeing the beetle, 
from which I made this drawing*, fly 
away in the bright sunshine. 
Lucy, Oh ! pray describe how it flew; 
were the wings large when opened out ? 
what colour were they ? 
Mother. Having finished my sketch, 
1 placed the little creature upon the win- 
dow stool ; in a few minutes it slowly 
stretched asunder the elytra, under which 
you know the wings are nicely folded ; it 
then suddenly expanded its wings, and 
rising with a loud humming noise, it de- 
scribed large circles in the air, and was 
soon out of sight. The wings were large 
and membranaceous, and so beautifully 
varnished, that, as the sun shone upon 
them, they glistened like gold. 
Lucy, How beautiful ! does the larva 
live in the water as well as the perfect 
insect ? 
* Plate VIII. 
