368 Observations on Madame Merian^s 



gregarious under a common web {tentorium), from which it 

 sallies forth at night for food. The three small figures are 

 those of Papilio Clio Fabr. 531. Gmel. 2254. With the plant 

 I am not acquainted. 



Plate S6, The four large figures well represent a species 

 of the genus Castnia, established by Fabricius in his last 

 work, the Systema Glossatorum, which death prevented him 

 from completing. It is the Papilio Licu5 Drury, i. tab. 16. 

 f. 1, 2. The minor figures belong to some of the Cicadadae, 

 which, in their earlier states, if I recollect rightly, imitate the 

 larvae of the Myrmeleonidae, and wear a coat of excrements, 

 exuviae, and other matter, for concealment. The plant, which 

 is only beautiful as the gradually developed flowers are ex- 

 panded, blossoms in our botanic garden. Well may the fair 

 author complain of the difficulties of penetrating through the 

 " bush," to use a colonial term. Though we have not the 

 many thorny plants which attack the sportsman in England, 

 the traveller meets too often with the strong spines of the 

 climbing Dioscore^; and the sharp blades of the frightful 

 razor grass, which inflict deep and painful gashes on the 

 cheeks and hands. 



Plate 37. The first three figures are those of a small 

 and pretty, but undetermined, moth; while a small Cicada? 

 is rudely drawn below. The plant is said to be a red variety 

 of the ochro, which I have never seen. Our true ochro 

 (Hibiscus esculentus L.) has yellow flowers and much more 

 ample leaves. The young pods [green, tender, and un- 

 ripened capsules], which vary in length and shape, are plain 

 boiled, and eaten as vegetables, with butter and pepper and 

 salt. When more advanced, but still green, they are made 

 into a glutinous soup, or form an ingredient in the pepperpot, 

 the most famous dish of the Creoles, which is principally 

 composed of the leaves of the calaloo (a kind of Calddium), 

 and seasoned with crabs, salt fish, or pork. 



Plate 38. The upper and smaller figures are meant for 

 the Papilio jatropharia Fabr. 89. Gmel. 2469. ; the four lower 

 ones for ^Sphin^ jatrophae Fabr, 22. Gmel. 2376. Though 

 the larva is better, these seem too rude to be depended on. 

 The species approaches in size ASphinjr Tetrio of the fifth plate. 

 The plant is the Jatropha ^ossypifolia, which abounds in our 

 low lands, and is remarkable for the quantity of those viscous 

 pedunculated glands which form fatal traps, in many cases, to 

 swarms of the smaller insects. 



Plate 39. illustrates an undetermined *S'phin.r, whose imago, 

 in general outline, approaches the subgenera Smerinthus Lat. 

 and Thyreu5 Swains.; but the length of the antlia, and the 



