with red ; the flesh is very white, and preferable to 

 that of any other species of river or sea crab. They 

 are found in abundance in almost all the rivers and 

 brooks, on whose shores they build themselves, with 

 clay, a small cylindrical tenement, which rises six 

 inches above the surface of the ground, but admits 

 ^the water, by means of a subterranean canal extend- 

 ing to the bed of the river. They are readily caught 

 by letting down a basket or osier pot, with a piece 

 of meat in it, into the water. 



The insects which I have noticed in Chili were 

 in general like those of Italy ; a great number, how- 

 ever, appear to be very distinct, and to merit a par- 

 ticular description. Among the latter is a singular 

 species of the chrt/somela (chrysomtlamaulicsL) which 

 is found upon the flowers of the visnega. It is of an 

 oval figure, a little larger than a house-fly, and is en- 

 tirely of a golden colour, and extremely brilliant. The 

 country people in the province of Maule, where it is 

 principally to be met with, string together a num- 

 ber of these insects for necklaces and other orna- 

 ments, which preserve their beauty and brilliancy for 

 a long time. 



In the same province is found a black beetle of 

 more than half an inch in length, called pilmo (luca- 

 nus pilmus) which is very destructive to leguminous 

 plants, particularly the bean. But the husbandmen 

 have succeeded in nearly extirpating this species, by 

 shaking the plants, upon which they are, over vessel^ 

 of hot water placed beneath. 

 Vol. I. ^ X 



