358 Observations on Madame MeriarCs 



more than usually convoluted, are worthy of notice. The 

 plant is a species o^ Anbna not found with us, which produces 

 an unpalatable fruit. 



Plate 4. contains the larva, empty puparium, and imago of 

 Papilio jatrophae Fab. 301. GrneL 2308. With the lizard I 

 am not acquainted, but disbelieve the improbable story of its 

 acquiring the length of 10 or 12 feet. The plant is the 

 flowerless head of the Jatropha Manihot, or cassada. 



Plate 5. contains four tolerable figures of iSphin^ Tetrio 

 Fab. 32.-— See also S. rustica Fab. 33. Gmel. 2385. The 

 larva is said to have been destructive to the fields of cassada 

 plants. In St. Vincent I have found noble specimens, just 

 developed, resting on the leeward or sheltered sides of the 

 gru-gru palm {Cocos fusiformis ?). As they were all caught 

 on the same tree, at distant intervals, it would appear probable 

 that they had fed on its fronds, and had descended through 

 the host of needles which beset the trunk, to seek a temporary 

 rest, in the pupa state, at its foot. The gravid snake, with 

 its eggs, is unknown to me. The unnoticed figure is the 

 curious Membracis foliata Fab. 4. Cicada Gfnel. 2092. The 

 root of the cassada is badly represented, with its tubers ; from 

 which, after the evaporation oi its poisono?is iuice, the granular 

 Jarine, and the flat cassava cakes of the West Indians, are 

 prepared. By the act of boiling o?il2/, this juice is (in the De- 

 merara settlement) converted into the rich and dark sauce 

 called cassaripe. The native Indians form of dark clay their 

 pots which bear the name of this sauce, serving to season the 

 hunter's daily meal; and the colonist has introduced the 

 custom into his more luxurious dwelling. The plan is, to 

 throw into the cassaripe pot, which is never cleaned or alto- 

 gether emptied, the remains of meat and poultry, to add the 

 sauce, and stir the compound preparation, which forms, as I 

 can readily testify, a most delicious meal. 



Plate 6. has two species of Saturni«, with their curious 

 larvae and cocoons {folliculi)^ both undetermined. The under 

 one approaches a species sent me from the Orinoco trees, on 

 the banks of the great river of that name, which assumed the 

 imago in my study in St. Vincent. The plant comes near to 

 <Solanum torvum, the round berries of which were boiled and 

 eaten here, during the partial famine caused by the stony 

 showers of the volcano of Morne Soufriere, in 1812. 



Plate 7. seems one of the most valuable in the work, and 

 represents the Papilio Achilles Fab. 2534. Gmel. 2245., with 

 the larva and oddly shaped pupa. This noble creature, 

 soaring in the tropic sun in all its splendour and strength, is 

 worthy to bear the name of the Grecian hero. The plant 



