CH. XVITI.] PARASITICAL INSECTS, ETC. 261 



the head and the under part of the thorax, and in a 

 few instances from the mouth. There is generally- 

 one to each grub, though some are found with two ; 

 and the larvae are not only dead, but in a state of 

 decay, and the sprout rising above the ground indi- 

 cates where they are found. It is a vulgar but pre- 

 vaihng notion, that such grubs are changed to briers. 

 A species of curculio in the perfect state, from 

 Mexico, has also been mentioned as having long 

 slender filaments attached to various parts of its 

 body ; and another specimen of the same was re- 

 markable for having one on the rostrum or beak, 

 which gave it the appearance of an additional horn. 

 A species of hymenopterous insect was first 

 made known under the name of vegetating wasp, 

 by a Spaniard, named Father Torrubia, at Madrid, 

 in the year 1754. The following curious account 

 was given by him. He found, two leagues from the 

 city of Havana, in New-Spain, in 1749, some dead 

 wasps in a field : from the belly of each wasp a 

 plant germinated, which grows about five spans 

 high. The natives call this plant Gia, and it is full 

 of sharp prickles, which are supposed by them to 

 proceed from the belly of the wasp. Edwards, in 

 his work on birds, has copied the figures. They are 

 represented as having taken possession of the 

 plant, and are flying away with their booty attached 

 to their bodies, though the original observer stated 

 that he found them dead in the field. Some others 

 were found in the Island of Dominica; they had 

 very much the appearance of the drone after they 

 buried themselves in May ; they began to vegetate 

 towards the end of July, or rather they are found so 

 about that time When the tree has arrived at its 

 full growth, it resembles a coral branch about three 

 inches high, bearing several little pods, which are 

 supposed by the inhabitants to "drop off" and be- 

 come worms, and from thence flies." This plant is 

 considered to be a species of clavaria, similar to the 



