50 PARKIN : FUNGI PARASITIC 



consequently this genus also may be largely or wholly 

 entomogenou8. 



Again, the entoniogenous nature of some of these micro- 

 fungi can readily be overlooked owing to certain scale-insects 

 fixing themselves below the outer bark of stems and thus 

 becoming invisible. A fungus growing on them conse- 

 quently looks as if it was coming straight from the tissues 

 of the plant. This is the case with Ghionaspis biclavis. 

 The coccid conceals itself beneath th« dead external layers 

 of the cortex, incorporating particles of the bark into its 

 scale. The specimen of Nectria on this insect found in 

 Ceylon exemplifies this point. 



Systematic Position. 



All the different forms of fungi so far discovered on scale- 

 insects may be ranked as Ascomycetes, though the ascus-stage 

 of many grouped under the Fuugi-imperfecti is as yet 

 unknown ; but by analogy it is legitimate to consider them 

 conidial fructifications of various Ascomycetes. 



It is remarkable that no member of the simpler Phyco- 

 mycetes has so far been discovered parasitic on coccids, 

 considering that one of its divisions, the Entomophthorineie, 

 is almost wholly entomogenous, containing the well- 

 known genus Empusa, so destructive to house-Hies, plant- 

 lice, &c. 



The Ascomycetes already found on coccids belong almost 

 entirely to the Bypooreales, a family of Pyrenomycetes. 

 This is an interesting fact, for the Ilypocreales contain the 

 familiar and Largely entomogenous genus Cordyceps, ohiefh 

 parasitic on caterpillar*. Representatives of eight or nine 

 genera of the Bypooreales have been found on scale-insects. 

 In addition to i hese a speoies of Melanospora is known to be 

 'inn nous. It would not then be surprising to find the 



habit still more widely spread amongst this group, 



<>!' theother two A.s<'oiiiyeetous genera mentioned in the 

 bematio part of this paper, Myriangium is doubtfully 



