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JOURNAL OF THE 



[April, 



and curved ; and the head, which is about one-quarter or one- 

 sixth the length of the stem, is black, broadly elliptical, and 

 crowded with the comparatively large, rounded perithecia, thus 

 presenting the appearance of a miniature mulberry. On one 

 specimen the stems were nearly all branched — an unusual occur- 

 rence. A stem of this description (shown in Fig. 6) had origi- 

 nally three branches, only one of which is now entire. In this 

 species of Torriibia. the spore-cases and the spores are quite 

 slender ; still, their forms are much less slender, and the joints 

 much less numerous, than in the other species. 



Fig. 6. — Scale-Insect Fungus (original). 



Prof. Riley says that Mr. Walsh, in an article published in the 

 "Practical Entomologist" (Vol. II., p. ii6)on the fungus which 

 attacks the White Grub, was the first to suggest in this country 

 the practical use of fungi in the farmer's war against insects ; 

 and he further says, that " however little faith he may have in 

 the use of beermash or yeast as a general insecticide, as recom- 

 mended by Dr. Hagen, he is fully convinced that great good may 

 be accomplished in destroying insects injurious to vegetation, by 

 the study and propagation of those particular fungi that are sev- 

 erally known to attack particular species." We may yet live to 

 see the day when the fungi will be used by man as one of the 

 prominent means of exterminating our insect pests. 



