Newly-discovered Species of Pine. 511 
to disengage themselves from the caterpillar skin. The hinder parts 
are those first liberated : when this is done, the animals contract and 
draw the skin up towards the head ; and by strong efforts they tsoon 
afterwards push it off entirely. 
As soon as the insect ^vithin the shell of the chrji-salis, has acquired 
strength sufficient to break the bonds that surround it, it exerts its 
powers, and appears to the world in a perfect state. For a little 
while it continues humid and weak ; but as the humidity evaporates, 
its wings and shell become hardened, and it soon afterwards commits 
itself in safety to its new element. 
John Smithurst. 
Lea, February 15, 1832. 
Article XVI. — Notice of a Neivly -discovered Species of 
- Pine. By R J. G. W. 
I REGRET that any communication which I may have made to you, 
should have been the cause of an erroneous insertion in your Register ; 
I allude to an anecdote relative to the Date Tree, which another corres- 
pondent says, "merits not the smallest credence." Nevertheless, one 
more versed in these matters than myself, has given credence to it, ha- 
ving inserted it as a note, in a well-known work, — see Dr. Darwin's 
"Principia Botanica,'' 3rd edition, in a note on page 178. 
Perhaps you may not have heard of a new species of Pine, found on 
the western flank of the Cordilleras, by Mr. David Douglas; it grows 
for about fifty feet from the ground, without either branches or leaves; 
and then spreads forth its branches, covered with a dark thick foliage. 
The stem, when pierced, emits a liquid very similar to milk, which is 
used by the natives, for the same domestic purposes; from which circum- 
stance I believe, it has been named the Milk-Tree. I understand, that 
a drawing of the tree, together with some of the seed, has been sent to 
this country. 
Having only had an oral account given me of it by a friend, of course 
I am liable to be incorrect in some of the particulars ; but upon refer- 
ring to any Member of the Linnaean Society, you may be furnished, I 
have no doubt, with further and better information. 
F. J. G. W. 
Jpril 9, 1832. 
