The Naturalist's Library: Duncan, J. The natural history of beetles. 1835William Jardine W. H. Lizars, 1835 |
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The Naturalist's Library: Mammalia, Whales, Etc William Jardine,Robert Hamilton No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
abdomen acute America angles animals antennæ apex appear base beautiful beetles belong black colour Black Notley blue body Brazil Britain brown brownish Buprestis Carabus CASSIDA Coleoptera considerable number convex CURCULIO deep Dejean dilated distinguished ELAPHRUS RIPARIUS Eleuth elytra elytron Entom Entomology Europe extremity Fabr figure frequently genus glossed green hairs head and thorax hinder horns inches inhabit insects joints kinds Kirby labrum larva larvæ latter length likewise Linnæus Lizars sc longitudinal male mandibles margin marked maxillæ maxillary palpi middle named native nearly observed Olivier outer edge palpi plants PLATE pubescence punctured lines Ray's reddish remarkable Scarabæus scarcely Scotland scutellum shining side and legs sometimes species spine spots of black strong structure surface suture Syst tarsi teeth tennæ terminal thickly covered thighs thorax tibiæ tion trees tribe tropical upper usually Willughby's wing-cases wings yellow yellowish
Popular passages
Page 77 - The shapely limb and lubricated joint, Within the small dimensions of a point, Muscle and nerve miraculously spun, His mighty work who speaks and it is done, The invisible in things scarce seen reveal'd, To whom an atom is an ample field.
Page 81 - Nature here Wantons as in her prime, and plays at will Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss ! MILToN, B.
Page 24 - The old ones are all over white, excepting the pinion or hard feathers of their wings, which are black. The upper part of the head and neck, in those that are old, is of a yellowish dun colour. They lay but one egg a-piece, which is white, and not very large. They are very bold, and sit in great multitudes till one comes close up to them, because they are not wont to be scared or disturbed. The young ones are esteemed a choice dish in Scotland, and sold very dear (Is. 8d. plucked).
Page 83 - In variegation, insects certainly exceed every other class of animated beings. Nature, in her sportive mood, when painting them sometimes imitates the clouds of heaven ; at others, the meandering course of the rivers of the earth, or the undulations of their waters ; many are veined like beautiful marbles; others have the semblance of a robe of the finest net-work thrown over them ; some she blazons with heraldic insignia, giving them to bear in fields sable, azure, vert, gules, argent, and or, fosses,...
Page 162 - Sorrowing we beheld The night come on ; but soon did night display More wonders than it veiled : innumerous tribes From the wood-cover swarmed, and darkness made Their beauties visible ; one while they streamed A bright blue radiance upon flowers...
Page 24 - The young one is upon the back black, and speckled with little white spots, under the breast and belly grey. The beak is sharp-pointed, the mouth very wide and large, the tongue very small, the eyes great, the foot hath four toes webbed together. It feeds upon mackrel and herring, and the flesh of the young one smells and tastes strong of these fish.
Page 40 - Dewlands, in the hall chamber, about three of the clock in the afiernoon, aged, as I suppose, seventy-eight : whose death, for some considerations, was a great wound to me. Yet have I good hope that her soul is received to the mercy of God, and her sins pardoned through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, in whom she trusted, and whose servant she hath been from her youth up, sticking constantly to her profession, and never leaving the church in these times of giddiness and distraction.
Page 195 - It is, however, attempted by others with success, unless it happen to roll into some deep hollow or chink, where they are constrained to leave it; but they continue their work by rolling off the next ball that comes in their way. None of them seem to know their own balls, but an equal care for the whole appears to affect all the community. They form these pellets while the dung remains moist; and leave them to harden in the sun before they attempt to roll them. In their...
Page 138 - Nor wanting here to entertain the thought, Creatures that in communities exist, Less, as might seem, for general guardianship Or through dependence upon mutual aid, Than by participation of delight, And a strict love of fellowship combined. What other spirit can it be that prompts The gilded summer flies to mix and weave Their sports together in the solar beam, Or in the gloom and twilight hum their joy ? " Another association is that of males during the season of pairing.
Page 87 - Of ruin'd shrines, busy and bright, As they were all alive with light; — And, yet more splendid, numerous flocks Of pigeons, settling on the rocks, With their rich restless wings, that gleam Variously in the crimson beam Of the warm west — as if inlaid With brilliants from the mine, or made Of tearless rainbows, such as span The unclouded skies of Peristan.