144 



NOTES TO THE 



with the following admirable description by the Eev. E. Taylor, 

 Waimate, New Zealand : 



" The Aweto is only found at the root of one particular tree, the 

 nata (Metronderos robusta). The root of the plant, which in every 

 instance exactly fills the body of the caterpillar, attains in the 

 finest specimens a length of three inches and a half, and the 

 stem, which germinates from this metamorphosed body of the 

 caterpillar, is from six to ten inches high. Its apex when in a 



THE AWETO, OR VEGETABLE CATERPILLAR OF NEW ZEALAND. 



state of fructification, resembles the club-headed bulrush in 

 miniature, and when examined with a powerful glass, presents 

 the appearance of an ovary. There are no leaves a solitary 

 stem comprises the entire plant, but if any accident break it off' 

 a second stem rises from the same spot. The body is not only 

 always found buried, but the greater portion of the stalk as well, 

 the seed-vessel alone being above ground. When the plant has 

 attained its maturity it soon dies away. 



