364 Observations on Madame Merian's 



goes, like some of those caterpillars, a change of colour when 

 mature. The exudation like a bunch of eggs is one of those 

 natural gums or resins which force their way from the over- 

 charged vessels of many a tropical tree ; and hang like opaque 

 icicles, or ooze like streams of frozen tears, from accidental 

 wounds. 



Plate 21. The four figures first noticed are those of a 

 small moth, and not a diurnal Papilio. The paler larva, 

 with its curious habitaculum of cemented sticks, being evi- 

 dently, like my genus Oiketicus of the Linncean Transactions 

 [vol. XV. tab. 6.], referable to the Lepidoptera, could never 

 have produced the red bug (a Reduvius?) figured in the 

 plate. The darker caterpillar and the cocoon are also those 

 of a lepidopterous insect ; though out of this, she asserts, 

 she procured the specimen of Petalopus {Kirby) Cimex Lat. 

 drawn at the bottom. With such instances of carelessness 

 and neglect before one, we must receive with caution the 

 more improbable assertions in her journal of the metamor- 

 phosis of the Surinam productions. The Passiflora is a showy 

 species; though the fruit, which I have received from Deme- 

 rara, is not valuable, and infinitely inferior to that of many 

 kindred plants. 



Plate 22. The three larger figures represent a fine and 

 distinct but undescribed Saturni«, belonging to the same 

 group as those depicted in plates 6. and 12. The larva is very 

 beautiful, and clothed with a vesture of plant-like branched pro- 

 cesses, imitating the ciliated calyxes of some vegetables. She has 

 remarked iheferreajila, or hard pungent bristles, with which 

 the ramuli terminate. The two small figures are the larva 

 and cocoon of some lepidopterous animal, which she idly sup- 

 poses produced the Lygae^us, or some cimicoid insect, which 

 is inserted in the plate. These strange mistakes must have 

 arisen from breeding many insects together, but are hardly to 

 be excused by the then imperfect knowledge of annulose 

 transformations. The lily is beautifully drawn, and is com- 

 mon in all West India gardens, where it blossoms without 

 culture, and occasionally becomes double. 



Plate 23. Four of the figures illustrate the curiously 

 armed larva, the pupa, and imago of Papilio Teucer Fabr. 271. 

 Gmel. 2248., which appear carefully drawn. The lizard is 

 doubtful ; these creatures differ beyond measure in the in- 

 tensity and disposition of their spots and markings. The eggs 

 of the diurnal species are more elongate than those figured ; 

 and they are covered, as in the turtle, with a coriaceous skin. 

 The eggs of nocturnal lizards are rounder, and have a cal- 

 careous shell : hence they are deposited anywhere ; whereas 



