212 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Why this fungus should attack this particular species oi 

 caterpillar is at present a mystery. Kindred forms are found 

 generally distributed over the world. Perhaps even more striking 

 tha,n our endemic species is La Guepe Vegetale, or vegetable wasp 

 of the West Indies. In this case the wasp has been observed 

 flying about with part of its body filled up with the mycelium of 

 the partly-developed fungus [F. spJuBCocephala). 



In this case it is beyond doubt that the insect dies from the 

 growth of the fungus, and that the fungus is not the subsequent 

 intruder, as has been suggested in the case of our caterpillar. 

 Another case in point, in which the fungoid growth certainly 

 causes the death of the host, is the silkworm disease (muscardine). 

 In all cases which have come under my notice the whole of the 

 body of the caterpillar has been filled with the mycelium of the 

 fungus, and nearly all traces of the internal structure obliterated. 



It is well known that many of the larvae of the larger moths 

 hybernate for indefinite periods, and take a considerable time in 

 coming to the pupa state. It may be that, during the dormant 

 period of hybernation, the sporidia may work down the burrow 

 of the insect and germinate, ultimately reducing the animal to 

 the state in which we find it. It seems natural that a caterpillar 

 when hybernating should remain with its head to the surface, 

 ready to emerge when better times come round ; and this would 

 account for the general position of the fungus, quite as well as 

 the theory that the spores become fixed in the interstices between 

 the segments whilst the animal is entering the ground. 



About twenty-five species of this genus of sphaeriaceous fungi 

 have been described in South Carolina ; one in Pennsylvania, on 

 a beetle, and one on a moth ; one in Cayenne, two in Brazil 

 (one on an ant), two in the West Indies, one in New Guinea, 

 and one in Senegal. In Australia two species have been re- 

 corded. Dr. Hooker found two in India, in the Khassya Hills ; 

 three have been found in Great Britain, and one has been found 

 in China, where it bears a great repute as a medicine, to be 

 administered as stuffing to roast duck. 



The genus Cordiceps (Fries), in the "Handbook of the New 

 Zealand Flora," contains two species: C. robertsii (Berk.), and 

 C. dnclairii (" Hbk. N.Z. PI." p. 338). The second species is 

 totally different in general appearance, aud attacks the larva? of one 

 of the Cicada, or Singing Locust. Every year four or five of these 

 vegetable-locust grubs are found in digging over a small patch 

 of garden ground in the Petane Valley. I regret that I have 

 not had time to examine these specimens closely, and con- 

 sequently cannot offer any further remarks on them. I also 

 regret that I am unable to lay before you the moth (Hepialus 

 virescens ?) into which, if unmolested by the fungus, the cater- 

 pillar is said to develope. Any resident in the neighbourhood 

 of any locality where vegetable caterpillars are found, might 



