169 



is generally beaten with a small stick before it is 

 cooked. The shell is oval, and covered with 

 knots or tuberosities ; the animal is about four 

 or live inches in lengthy and near the neck has a 

 small vesicle which contains a few drops of a 

 purple liquor. 



As far as I have had it in my power io ob- 

 servCj there are no naked snails or slugs in Chilij 

 tut those that are covered with a shell are very 

 numerous in all the thickets. One of the most 

 curious species is found in the vicinity of Con- 

 ception; 1 have called it the serpentine, from its 

 skin being hard and covered with scales like that 

 f a serpent. The shell is conical, and larger 

 than a turkey's egg ; it is slightly striated, and 

 of a whitish grey colour, and the edge of the 

 aperture is turned back and forms a border of a 

 beautiful red. 



Sect. II. Cruatckcous Fishes and Insecls. 

 Thirteen difterent species of crabs and craw-iish 

 have been discovered on the sea-coast of Chili, 

 and there are four kinds inhabiting the fresh 

 waters.*' Anioag the crabs the most remarkable 

 are the tallcuna^ the xaha, the apancora^ the hairij, 

 the a ant oil a, -c.nd the croxcned. 



The ialicuna (cancer talicuna) has a round, 

 smooth, and convex shelly about four inches in 

 <iiameter. The claws are denticulated, the head 

 lind the eyes very protrusive, and the belly is al- 



