370 Obsewations on Madame Mcrian^s 



we may occasionally observe scattered squamulae or a light 

 pruina. Above are three figures of a moth not determined by 

 any scientific writer. The elongate larva bears some resem- 

 blance to one I have described in the Transactions of the 

 Society of Arts, ^c, vol. xlvii., as very destructive to the 

 fields of sugar cane in the island of Bequia. The Bioca Orel- 

 Idna L.5 or anotto, is tolerably executed. This plant, so well 

 known in commerce, is easily cultivated here, but has never 

 been attended to by the planter, whose whole thoughts and 

 cares are absorbed b}' the more productive cane. 



Plate 45. has three figures of a ASphin^r, of the same group 

 as aS. Carolina, not known to modern authors, though appa- 

 rently very distinct. The yellow variety ? of the Voincmna 

 pulcherrima i., or flower-fence, as it is called, seems a dis- 

 tinct species, as I never can detect any changing in its petals. 

 It forms a pretty hedge, and is used by the Creole doctresses 

 among their credulous patients. 



Plate 46. We have here another distinct species of 

 S\>\\\nx not determined. The antennae seem fictitious. With 

 the plant and snake I am not acquainted. 



Plate 47. With a showy figure of a branch and bunch 

 of white grapes, are given, above, three rude figures of ASphinjr 

 vitis Fabr, 41. Gmel 2380. Drury 1. p. 28. f. 1. I have 

 observed, with Madame Merian, the tendency which the 

 more light-coloured larvae of this and other species have to 

 become rufescent before their pupal change. The singular 

 larva, and the other two figures below, should apparently be 

 referred to »Sphin^ satellitia Fabr^ 42. Gmel. 2381. Drury 1. 

 t. 29. f. 1, 2. 



Plate 48. The plant seems allied to Eugenm, and ap- 

 pears to be mistaken for a tree which furnished a pigment to 

 the savage natives. A lepidopterous larva, remarkable for its 

 regular and close fasciculi of hairs, is given with the cccoon : 

 and out of this, without the slightest probability, is said to 

 have proceeded the large bee added below. The beetle with 

 expanded wings is said to be the Prion us cervicornis Fabr. 12., 

 Cerambyx Gmel. 1814. In the centre is the Cordylia (Ca- 

 landra) palmarum Fabr. 2. Gmel. 1740., the prince of the 

 destructive tribes of the Curculionidae. The larva or gru-gru 

 worm, so misplaced here,, resembles nothing in nature but a 

 lump of fat. In the Transactions of the Society of Atis, ^c, 

 vol. xlvi., I have given descriptions and coloured plate, fully 

 illustrating this fine insect in all its stages. The gru-gru 

 worm is still eaten by a few persons : they are fried in butter, 

 and the greedy epicure, holding the hard horny head between 

 his fingers, sucks out the fat entrails of this disgusting mor- 



