Cunningham. — The Genus Cordyceps in New Zealand. 379 



(H. Hill) (10), Petane (A. Hamilton) (9), Auckland (E. Craig) (13), 

 Waikanae (H. C. Field) (7), Raurimu (E. H. Atkinson) ! In the South 

 Island this species appears to be less common. Specimens have been 

 recorded from the following localities : Catlin's and Tokonui Range, near 

 Gore (teste Benham) ; Riverton (W. G. Howes) ! Lloyd (16) states that it has 

 been collected in Australia by Cheel. Rodway (20) records its incidence 

 in Tasmania. Australia, N.S.W. (E. Cheel). Tasmania (L. Rodway), gully 

 at foot of Mount Wellington. 



No. 191, Biol. Lab. Herb. (Crypt.), Wellington. 



Many improbable tales of the life-history of this species may be found 

 in the earlier articles on the subject. One assertion that has gained 

 credence is that these fungi are found only under the rata (Metrosideros spp.). 

 It is true that they are often found under the rata, but they occur as 

 frequently in areas in which no rata is found growing ; for example, 

 Hamilton (9) records its occurrence under Coprosma grandifolia Hook. f. 



Frequent mention is made of its being used as food by the Maori. 

 I am informed by Mr. Elsdon Best, that, although in times of famine the 

 Maori undoubtedly made use of certain terrestrial and arboreal fungi as 

 articles of food, they certainly did not eat the awheto, as this fungus is 

 called by them. 



The sclerotium of Cordyceps Robertsii was, however, made use of in 

 tattooing, Mr. Best stating that the vegetative, portion of the fungus, or 

 awheto — the living grub being known as ngutara — was burnt and pulverized, 

 and the powder so obtained mixed with water to form a black paste. The 

 pattern of the tattoo having been marked out on the limbs and body (the 

 pigment was not used on the face, as it did not give a deep enough black), 

 the edge of the uhi whakatataramoa was placed on a line of the pattern 

 and the back struck with the take rarauhe * causing the skin to be severed. 

 A second implement, the uhi puru (which had a serrated edge), was then 

 dipped in the pigment, applied to the cut made by the uhi first used, and 

 struck with the take rarauhe, the pigment remaining on removal of the uhi. 



Cordyceps Robertsii is an extremely variable form. (Plate LXI, fig. 1.) 

 I have specimens with a single stroma ; with stromata occurring in pairs 

 from the head ; with a single stroma bifurcate about half-way between apex 

 and base ; and with stromata growing from both head and anal regions. 



Specimens are most plentiful in the summer months. Hill (10) states 

 that the mature stage is most common in October. November, and 

 December, but he has seen Maori children offering them for sale along the 

 Rotorua railway-line as late as March. 



Note on the Hosts (by J. G. Myers). — Practically all the earlier naturalists 

 accepted without question the current belief that the host of this species 

 was Hepialus virescens Dbld. Hamilton, Field, Maskell, and other writers 

 in the early volumes of the Transactions of the Neiv Zealand Institute considered 

 this to be the only larva large enough to coincide with the " vegetable 

 caterpillar " in siz<\ This was, however, merely a conjecture. G. V. Hudson 

 was the first to point out the improbability of the arboreal Hepialus as a 

 host, seeing that the infected larvae were invariably found underground. 

 He suggested Porina main Buller as the host ; but only one specimen of 

 this moth has been taken, and the supposition rests only on its large size, 



* The take rarauhe was made from a piece of fern-stalk (Pteridium esculentum 

 Cockayne), lashed round at the end to prevent its splitting. Fuller information on 

 tattooing as practised by the Maori may be obtained in the Journal of the Polynesian 

 Society, vol. 13, p. 166, 1904. 



