FUNGI. 237 



cavity, where it remained covered with the bark of 

 the root, which so nicely joins to it that those who 

 observe it in a slight v/ay cannot but mistake it to 

 be a part of the root, or the remainder of tlie root a 

 continuation of the body. On opening the body of 

 the larvae, however, we find that the root of the 

 fungus entirely occupies the whole interior portion 

 from the head to the opposite end." 



Of these insect parasites, following as types the 

 West Indian and the Chinese forms, there are many 

 species known, probably not much less than fifty, 

 from almost all parts of the world. Some of these 

 are minute, of which almost the 

 smallest is found in Europe, on a 

 dung-fly the stem of which is like 

 a bristle, and not exceeding half an 

 inch in length (Fig. 42). In the p-,,. ,,_D,„g.ny ciub. 

 Australasian colonies far more im- 

 posing species are found, growing from the bodies 

 of dead caterpillars. The clubs are in some cases 

 simple unbranched clubs, and sometimes these are 

 divided above, after the manner of a stag's horn. 

 The caterpillar itself is usually found buried in the 

 ground, where they retire to undergo their meta- 

 morphosis. The fungus appears, more or less, some- 

 times nearly entirely, above the surface of the soil. 

 One of the most imposing, and, probably the largest 

 species known (Fig. 43), was found on the banks of 

 the Murrambidgee, in New South Wales. The buried 

 caterpillars reach a length of six inches, and the 

 parasites are very little shorter when fully matured, 

 acquiring by age a dark colour. Between these two 



