Iridescent Collection (page 12)

Magnificent hummingbird in flight C018 / 2421
Magnificent hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) in flight. This hummingbird inhabits wooded areas in southern North America, from Arizona, USA, to Mexico

Magnificent hummingbird in flight C018 / 2423
Magnificent hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) in flight. This hummingbird inhabits wooded areas in southern North America, from Arizona, USA, to Mexico

Metallic wood boring beetles. View of the upper side of four metallic wood boring beetles (Euchroma gigantea). E. gigantea is the largest of the buprestid beetles

Violet sabrewing hummingbird C018 / 2471
Violet sabrewing hummingbird. Female violet sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) hovering in flight. This large hummingbird reaches lengths of 15 centimetres

Jewel beetles. View of the upper side of a number of Madecassia rothschildi jewel beetles (family Buprestidae, showing their iridescent bodies. The bodies of these specimens measure 5cm long)

Green violetear hummingbird in flight C018 / 2401
Green violetear hummingbird (Colibri thalassinus) in flight. This large hummingbird is found in mountain forests and scrubland in the tropics from Mexico to northern South America

Fiery-throated hummingbird C018 / 2395
Fiery-throated hummingbird on a branch. The fiery-throated hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) is a medium-sized hummingbird (family Trochilidae)

Giant cockroaches
INS-BLATTO-143-Trichoblatta magnifica.Nom commun: Blatte Ordre: Dictyoptère (du grec, diktuon, filet, r

Indian peafowl tail feathers C016 / 5714
Indian peafowl. Close-up of indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) tail feathers

Blue morpho butterfly C016 / 5665
Blue morpho butterfly (Morpho cypris). This butterfly is from Central America

Amazonian butterfly C016 / 5664
Amazonian butterfly (Morpho menelaus). An iridescent butterfly from the Amazon

Swallotail butterfly C016 / 5663
Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio ulysses telegonus)

Indian peafowl, artwork C016 / 5610
Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus). Painting by Pieter Cornelius de Bevere, from the Loten Collection of coloured drawings of Birds, Mammals, Insects and Plants (1754-1757)

Beetles with metallic iridescence C016 / 5444
Beetles with metallic iridescence. Pair of beetles with gold (left) and silver (right) metallic iridescence. These specimens are part of the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Haematite mineral specimen C016 / 5115
Haematite mineral specimen. Iridescent crystalline mass of haematite (iron oxide). This specimen is from from Rio Marina, on the Mediterranean island of Elba

Butterfly wing scales, light micrograph C016 / 3037
Butterfly wing scales. Darkfield illuminated light micrograph of scales on a butterflys (order Lepidoptera) wing. Magnification: x220, when printed 10 centimetres wide

Beetle Foot (Sagra sp. ) SEM C013 / 7199
Detail of a beetle foot. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of the foot and claw of a beetle (Sagra sp.). This image shows the profusion of tiny hairs that this beetle has

Paradise riflebirds, 19th century artwork C013 / 6426
Paradise riflebirds (Ptiloris paradiseus). Plate 100 from The Birds of Australia, Vol.4 (1840-1848) by John Gould

Imitation mother of pearl fabric C014 / 0231
Imitation mother of pearl fabric. Close-up of a fabric made using plastic that has been treated to look like mother of pearl

Imitation mother of pearl fabric C014 / 0230
Imitation mother of pearl fabric. Close-up of a fabric made using plastic that has been treated to look like mother of pearl

Butterfly wing scale, SEM
Butterfly wing scale, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). A butterflys scales are modified hairs, or setae, and are made of chitin, a common substance in insect exoskeletons

Butterfly wing scale. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a scale from the underside of a wing of a blue morpho (Morpho peleides) butterfly

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Astrapia mayeri female Kumul Lodge Western Highlands Papua New Guinea

Agyrtria niveipectus, hummingbird display
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds, which were then displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Agyrtria viridiceps, hummingbird display
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds which were displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Agyrtria brevirostris, hummingbird display
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds, which were displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Opal necklace given to the museum in 1958

Hummingbird specimen
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds, which were then displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Hummingbird display case
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds, which were displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Agyrtria leucocaster, hummingbird display
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds, which were then displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Agyrtria candida, hummingbird display
As Curator and Preserver to the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, in 1851 John Gould compiled an exhibition of stuffed hummingbirds which were displayed in 24 custom-made cases

Glaucopsyche lydamus, xerces blue
The xerces blue (Glaucopsyche lydamus) survives in a series of subspecies. The xerces blue is one of them. Underside of butterfly shown here

Nautilus pompilius, nautilus
Specimen shell of the nautilus (Nautilus pompilius), which has been sectioned to show body chamber (largest section), septa (individual chambers) and siphuncle (tube canal)

Argyropelecus sp. hatchetfish
Specimen jar containing hatchetfish (Argyroplectus sp.), held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Pyrrhoxcorax pyrrhocorax, red-billed chough
Plate 29 from William MacGillivrays Watercolour drawings of British Animals (1831-1841)

Columba oenas, stock dove
Plate 2 from John Goulds The Birds of Great Britain, Vol. 4 (1873). Hand coloured lithograph

Ciconia nigra, black stork
Plate 31 from John Goulds The Birds of Great Britain, Vol. 4 (1873). Hand coloured lithograph

Phaethornis anthophilus, pale-bellied hermit
Plate 24, hand coloured lithograph from John Goulds A Monograph of the Trochilid, or Family of Hummingbirds, Vol.1, (1849-61)

Chalcophaps indica, emerald dove
Plate 82, painting by Pieter Cornelius de Bevere, from the Loten Collection of coloured drawings of Birds, Mammals, Insects & Plants, (1754-57)

Columba livia, rock dove
Plate 3 from John Goulds The Birds of Great Britain, Vol. 4 (1873). Hand coloured lithograph

Ptiloris magnificus, magnificent riflebird

Hemiprocne mystacea, moustached treeswift
Plate 24 from John Goulds The Birds of Asia, Vol. 1, (1850-83). Hand coloured lithograph

Lophophorus impejanus, Himalayan monal
Plate 53 from John Goulds The Birds of Asia, Vol. 7, (1850-83). Hand coloured lithograph

Chalcophyllite
Chalcopyrite or copper pyrite comprises of (copper iron sulphide). Its a common mineral and found in almost all sulphide deposits

Ptiloris victoriae, Victorias riflebird
Plate 50, hand coloured lithograph by John and Elizabeth Gould from John Goulds The Birds of Australia, Supplementary volume, (1840-1848)

Dicrurus aeneus, bronzed drongo
Plate 44, watercolour by Margaret Bushby Lascelles Cockburn from her Neilgherry birds and Miscellaneous, (1858)

Lacewing in amber
Lacewings from the order Neuroptera are gauzy-winged insects, and seen here preserved inside Baltic amber. Specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Heliodoxa imperatrix, empress brilliant
Plate 192, hand coloured lithograph by John and Elizabeth Gould from John Goulds A Monograph of the Trochilid, or Family of Hummingbirds, Vol.4, (1849-61)

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"Iridescent: A Kaleidoscope of Colors from Barcelona to the United Kingdom" Step into the mesmerizing world of iridescence, where colors dance and shimmer in a breathtaking display. From the iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain - a UNESCO World Heritage Site that glows with an iridescent charm - to the vibrant feathers of the Kingfisher in the United Kingdom, Europe offers an array of natural and man-made wonders. Witness nature's own masterpiece as Morpho cypris, the blue morpho butterfly flutters by with its radiant wings that seem to change hues at every turn. Just like Gaudi's architectural marvels at Sagrada Familia, this delicate creature captivates with its iridescent beauty. In Cleveland, UK, a Northern Lapwing stands gracefully in shallow water. Its plumage reflects light like a prism, showcasing an ethereal palette that mirrors both sky and earth. Meanwhile, high above Flakstad's snowy peaks, the Northern Lights illuminate the night sky with their enchanting glow. The green light dances upon fisherman's cabins while Koi carp swim beneath it alluringly. Scarab beetles scuttle across landscapes adorned with soap bubbles reflecting rainbow shades. These tiny creatures remind us that even within small beings lies immense radiance waiting to be discovered. Iridescence is not limited to one corner of our planet; it transcends borders and cultures, and is found in every nook and cranny – from Catalonia’s architectural gems to England’s diverse wildlife; from Norway’s celestial spectacle to Japan’s tranquil koi ponds. So let your imagination take flight on this journey through Europe's kaleidoscope of colors – where iridescence reveals itself in unexpected places and reminds us how truly magical our world can be.