648 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
THE BULRUSH CATERPILLAR. 
Description of the Bulrush Caterpillar, Sphceria Robertsia ; 
Native name, Aweto-Hotete. 
This singular plant, which is a native of New Zealand, 
may be classed amongst the most remarkable productions of 
the vegetable kingdom. 
There are birds which dispossess others of their nests, and 
marine animals which take up their abode in deserted shells ; 
but the sphoeria surpasses all, by killing and taking posses- 
sion, making the body of an insect — and that, too, very 
probably, a living one — the foundation from whence it rears 
its stem, and the source from which it derives its support. 
It certainly forms one of the most surprising links between 
the animal and vegetable kingdom yet noticed, and, as such, 
merits as circumstantial a description as our present imper- 
fect acquaintance with it will allow. 
The aweto is found at the root of the rata and other 
trees. The plant, in every instance, exactly fills the body of 
the caterpillar ; in the finest specimens it attains the length 
of three inches and-a-half, and the stem which germinates 
from this metamorphosed body, is from six to ten inches 
high ; its apex, when in a state of fructification, resembles 
a fern, but in form the club-headed bulrush in miniature. 
There are no leaves— a solitary stem comprises the entire 
plant; if any accident breaks it off, a second arises from 
the same spot. The body is always found buried, as well as 
the greater portion of the stalk ; when it attains its maturity, 
it soon dies away. 
These curious plants are far from being uncommon ; when 
fresh, they have the flavor of a nut ; the natives eat them, 
and likewise used them when burnt as coloring matter for 
tattooing, rubbing the powder into the wounds, in which 
state it has a strong animal smell ; when newly dug up, 
the substance of the caterpillar is soft; and being divided 
longitudinally, the intestinal canal is distinctly seen. Most 
specimens possess the legs entire, with the horny part of the 
