173 



of Linnaeus. Bed-bugs were unknown in Chili 

 till within thelast sixtyyears. They are said to have 

 been first introduced by the European ships^ but 

 have since increased very much in the northern 

 provinces^ particularly in St. Jago. The south- 

 ern provinces are as yet exempt from this trouble- 

 some insect. 



The glow-worms that I have seen were in ge- 

 neral similar to those of Italy. But one nighty as 

 I was passing a little wood^ I observed three in- 

 sects as large as the death's head sphinx ( sphinx 

 atropos ) which gave a very bright light. My 

 attempts to take them^ however, were fruitless, 

 and I was never afterwards able to discover any 

 of them^ but I am of opinion tliat they vrere a 

 species of the lantern-fly. 



Of caterpillars there is a great variety of spe- 

 cies ; and in the summer the fields of Chili are 

 embellished with the most beautiful butterflies?: 

 Among them are some that are remarkable for 

 their size and the splendour of tlicir colours. Of 

 thesCj the most distinguished is one that I have 

 denominated the, parrot huiterjlij (papilio psitta- 

 eus). This is vcrv larire and wonderful! v beau- 

 tiful; the top of the head is of a fine vermilion, 

 marked with yellow; the back yellow^ with red, 

 azurcj and green spots ; the i:pper part of tiiP 

 wings is grcen^ spotted with vellow andblue, and 

 the lower of a pale red ; ths belly is blue, 

 speckled with brown and grey, and the autennaiv 

 1 



