123 



SCIENCE. GOSSIP. 



[June 1, 1S66. 



a small orate, or egg-shaped head, in which the 

 fructifying organs are imbedded, the length and 

 direction of the stem being influenced by the position 

 of the insect. When, as is often the case, the larva 

 was imbedded at right angles to the soil, head upper- 

 most, and near the surface, the stem was short, and 

 in a line with the body ; but if more deeply imbedded 

 the stem was lengthened, so that the head was ele- 

 vated about a quarter of an inch above the surface. 

 If the insect lay in any other position the stem was 

 contorted, or arose at right angles to the larva, always 

 striving to appear above the surface, and there pro- 

 duce its sounded head. The stem was externally of 

 a dirty, yellowish colour, and the head of a brick-red, 

 or livid brown. The whole substance is fleshy and 

 fragile when fresh, so as to suap readily when roughly 

 handled. Our figure represents two specimens, 

 natural size, and in the position in which they 



Fig. 119. a. Section of head of Torrubia entomorrhiza, mag- 

 nified, b. Portion of ascus, with sporidia. c. Sporidium. 

 d. Joints of sporidium, more highly magnified. 



were found, the upper portion only, to the length 

 of about half an inch, appearing above the surface. 



If the head of this parasitic fungus be cut either 

 vertically or horizontally, there will be observed near 

 the margin a number of small cells (fig. 119, a) which 

 contain the perithecia, or flask-shaped vessels, 

 within which the fruit is generated. These perithecia 

 puncture the surface of the head with their ostiola, 

 or necks, through an orifice of which the sporidia 

 are ultimately excluded. Within the perithecia are 

 a number of long cylindrical asci, or transparent 

 membranaceous vessels, at first attached at the base, 

 and closed at the summit, in each of which are pro- 

 duced eight long threadlike sporidia (fig. 119, b, top of 

 ascus, the lower portion being removed to show the 

 sporidia). Each sporidium (fig. 119, c) ultimately 

 breaks up into a number of small joints (fig. 119, d). 

 A similar structure prevails in all the species of 

 the genus Torrubia, to which this fungus belongs. 



A curious notion prevails in the district where 

 these parasites were found that they and the insect 

 are somewhat mysteriously associated with the colts- 

 foot {Tussilago farfar), that plant being common in 

 the same locality; and, certainly when breaking 

 through the ground, the buds bear some resemblance 

 to the Torrubia. One individual transplanted into 

 his own garden some larvse with their parasites, 

 confident that he should obtain from them as many 

 plants of " coltsfoot." Ey the present time, he is 

 probably convinced, by failure, of his error. 



A more conspicuous species than the foregoing is 

 found on pupa; buried in the ground. The head in 



Fig. 120. Torrubia militaris. Fig. 121. Isaria farinosa. 



this instance (fig. 120) is club-shaped, and rises from 

 an inch to an inch and a half above the soil. Its 

 colour is of a brilliant orange, almost vermilion. 

 This species is known by the name of Torrubia 

 militaris. It cannot be regarded as common, though 

 perhaps more widely distributed than the former. 

 We may observe that sometimes this fungus main- 

 tains through its whole existence a state very dif- 

 ferent to that we have just described. Instead of 

 producing a club-shaped head, a smaller, more deli- 

 cate and friable white stem grows up, which is often 

 branched, and the (fig. 120) whole surface is clothed 

 with a white powder, as if it were flour or chalk. 

 No perithecia, asci, or sporidia are produced, nothing 

 save the white dust, which consists of minute cellular 

 bodies termed conidia. This conidiiferous condition 

 was for a long time regarded as a distinct fungus, 

 and under the name of Isaria farinosa is still 

 alluded to as though it had an independent existence. 

 It is very probable that all the species of Isaria are 

 only condiiferous conditions of other fungi. 



Dr. Greville has figured in his Cryptogamic Flora 

 a species of Torrubia, to which he gives the name of 

 gracilis, which some regard as identical with the 

 species with which this chapter commenced. Others 

 have considered it as distinct. Never having seen 

 it we will not venture an opinion. It has been 



