19th century illustrated engraving, for an interior with a unique naturalistic look - Copris d'Isis by Charles d'Orbigny

Engraving reproduction of: Copris of Isis (Copris Isidis, Savigny), Lanciferous Phanæus (Phanæus lancifer, Fabr.), Ateuchus of the Egyptians (Ateuchus Ægyptiorum, Lat.), Antenna of the sacred Ateuchus (Ateuchus sacer, Lin.)

Illustration taken from the Universal Dictionary of Natural History, written under the direction of Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1806-1876) and published from 1841 to 1849.

This work, considered one of the major achievements of the 19th century in terms of scientific synthesis and quality popularization, wonderfully illustrating the great beauty and impressive diversity of the biological world, was supplemented by a certain amount of scientific information, some extracts of which are reproduced below.

Important note: the scientific classification elements of the time have been preserved as they are and may of course be obsolete today.

Scientific classification and description of the species present in the engraving:

Class of Insects
Order of Coleoptera
Suborder Scarabaeidae
Coprid Family
Fig. 1. Copris of Isis (Copris Isidis, Savigny) Natural size.
1. a. Antenna of Copris lunaris, Lin.
Fig. 2. Phanaea lancifera (Phanæus lancifer, Fabr.) Natural size.
Fig. 3. Ateuchus of the Egyptians (Ateuchus Ægyptiorum, Lat.) Male, natural size.
Fig. 4. Female of the same. Natural size.
4. a. Antenna of the sacred Ateuchus (Ateuchus sacer, Lin.)
• b. Paw.