ON ENTOMOGENOUS SPHJERIA. 209 
6. Sph. Rodertsii, Hook.—Sp. Hugelii. Corda. Ic. Fasc. 
4. cum opt. analysi. 
On the larva of Hepialus virescens, Doubleday. New Zealand. 
The following valuable information was transmitted by 
Dr. Joseph Hooker, of H. M. Discovery ship, Erebus. 
. “About Spheria Robertsii Y collected all the information and 
_ 88 many specimens as I could, but am still much at a loss 
_ to account for its developement. They are found in spring 
. generally under tree ferns ; the caterpillar is buried in the 
ground as is the lower portion of the fungus. Now both 
these fungi (i. e. this and the following species) belong to 
Caterpillars which bury themselves for the purpose of under- 
.. Boing the metamorphosis; and both Mr. Taylor and Mr. 
... Colenso hold the same opinion that in the act of working the - 
Soil, the spores of the fungus are lodged in the first joint of- 
3 the neck, and the caterpillar settles head upwards to undergo 
Its change, when the vegetable developes itself. I do not 
Temember, you have remarked in your “Icones,” that the 
]htire body of the insect is filled with a pith or corky vege- 
table substance, and that the intestines are displaced, which 
MY specimens in spirits shew well, and then what does the 
‘Muscular fibre of the animal become? It must I suppose be 
: all turned into vegetable, for the skin of the creatures re- 
‘Mains quite sound all the time. This change may take 
: . place from the displacement of one gas and developement of © xe 
x other; it also occurs in the dark, and is hence somewhat 
xs analogous to the formation of Fungi on the timber-work in e 
| nes. However this may be, the whole insect seems 
DS entirely metamorphosed into vegetable with the exception of 
. “te skin and intestines.” : 
— Asin silk-worms attacked by Botrytis Bassiana, it is most 
. Probable that the caterpillar lingers a short time till the vital 
gans are clogged up with the mycelium. It does not 
3ppear that in any case it has made any progress with its 
ledge of the moth to which the larva belongs. eh cc 
T. Sphzria Taylori, n. s. stipitibus fasciculatis connatis — 
eoccoon, We are indebted to Mr.Dieffenbach for the know- —— 
