178 



occ^^sionally we can feel sure that the death of the scale-insect 

 is due to the fungus. 8uch fungi, if the scale-insects are doing 

 much damage, must be looked upon as very beneficial. 



Mr. Maskell has described how on certain plants in the forests 

 of New Zealand, brown or yellow spots may be commonly ob- 

 served on the under side of the leaves, which on examination, 

 prove to be fungi. On pulling one of these fungi to pieces, a 

 dead scale-insect will always be fjund in the middle. If the 

 very young scale-insects are examined, the fungus may often be 

 seen beginning to grow on or within them. In California, Mr. 

 Coquillett has found a fungus on scales of Lecanium olex, and 

 although it is not yet proved that it attacks them while alive, 

 it probably does so, 



1 he brown scale (Lecanium hemisphericum) is one of the 

 very worst of garden pests in Kingston, si it is satisfactory to 

 be able to announce the discovery of a fungus living upon it. 

 On Jan. 2, I found spt-ciraens of the brown scale on Taber- 

 ncemontana in Col. VVhite's garden at Halfway i ree, which 

 were attacked by a white fungus, which seemed to be the early 

 stage of some Cordyceps. 1 sent some to Mr. J. B. Ellis, who 

 writes that this identification is pri»bably correct. In this case, 

 it would need further observation and experiment to pr<»ve that 

 the iungus actually kills the scale-insect, but 1 am stronirly 

 inclined to think that it does so. .Such fungi as th> se are 

 always described from specimens on dead insects, because they 

 certainly mature afer the insect is (lad ; but it is not thereby 

 proved that they do i.ot first attack their host while it is alive. 



March 4th IbUS. 



