List of the Plants of Chile. 63 



the extremities are extended ; — the body lengthens, (and now meas- 

 ures more than two inches ', while the breadth is two thirds of an inch;) 

 a transverse opening is disclosed on the back, two thirds of an inch 

 from the head, — and of a most rich velvet black color. The rep- 

 tile was sluggish during the day, and motionless, except when much 

 disturbed; but on the approach of night, — and in the night, there 

 seemed perpetual action, except a strong light was introduced. 

 When much irritated, it protruded two green horns or feelers, moving 

 them rapidly, and emitting an unpleasant odor. — But that which 

 most strikingly distinguished this caterpillar, was a cloak-like appen- 

 dage, covering the whole body including the head, and fringed semi- 

 circularly around the stigmatae, the hairs diverging in a most curious 

 manner. This " Calymphorus" of reptiles, 1 have never seen either 

 described, or living except the specimen which has furnished this 

 subject ; nor do I find in any work on Entomology any thing at all 

 resembling it. Through the carelessness of a domestic, I lost this 

 caterpillar after having diligently noticed its habits for three days. — I 

 am pretty well satisfied that it is carnivorous. 



Papilio or Butterfly. 



I have reared from the egg from forty to fifty individuals of the Pa- 

 pilio, described by Say as the Danaus Plexippus, (Linmus Feruginea 

 Plexippe,) which in its Larva state feeds on several varieties of the 

 Asclepias. I have noticed with accuracy its many changes from its 

 first escape from the egg state, to its ultimate perfection as a winged 

 insect; together with the intervals between each change, and I can 

 imagine nothing more interesting to the student or even the casual 

 observer than the metamorphoses from the Caterpillar to the Pupa, 

 and the Chrysalis to the brilliant and perfect insect. The larvae of 

 the Papilio hirundo are also very noticeable in some of their habits, 

 and though in the Pupa state, less interesting than the Papilio Danaus, 

 not less beautiful in its perfection as a winged inhabitant of the air. 



Art. X. — List of the plants of Chile, by Dr. C. Bertero; trans- 

 lated from the " Mercnrio Chileno" and forwarded for this Jour- 

 nal; by W. S. W. Ruschenberger, M. D. U. S. Navy. 



Preliminary Remarks abridged from an address to the Editors of the Chilian Mercury. 



Gentlemen. — It is well known that Chile unites, in a smaller ex- 

 tent, a greater number of circumstances favorable to the people who 



