Growth of Vegetables on the bodies of Animals. 23 
eapren es = its progress had kept pace with the growth of 
the er 
After the iia observations, he satisfied himself in a very ra~ 
tidnal way, wherefore the vegetable parasite was situated on 
the fore part of the body. it was remarked, that rarely or 
never, was there more than one vegetable on a single wasp. 
Botanists have pronounced this parasitical production, to 
ea species of Spheria, belonging to the natural order of 
the Fungi. Upon the supposition, that it is propagated by 
seeds in the ordinary mode, it plainly appears that these 
seeds would, on being wafted through the air, alight upou 
the most exposed part of the unhatched insect, that was ac- 
commodated for its reception. This would, of course, be 
near the head. ing fixed there, it would increase with the 
rig agian of the mame arid drawing nourishment fi from 
its body, would continue to grow, even after it had attained 
its last and perfect state, until the Spheeria deatheyee the life 
of the was 
If the declaration that a vegetable of any sort could take 
& root, or sustain itself upon a living animal, rested upon a 
solitary occurrence, it might be suspected there was a mis- 
take in the matter. But in the present instance, there is no ~ 
room left for such an objection, inasmuch as the vegetating 
wasps collected on the spot, and carried away in complete 
preservation, put the fact beyond all doubt, that under par- 
~ ticular ae the body of an insect, while yet alive, 
becomes the soil or base uposi which vegetables fasten them- 
selves, and from which they derive support. 
reconciled to such a Tee Be sag 
sidering the history of the Ichneumon, an insect of the 
opterous order. It is called Pupivorous, by reason of tlie 
voracity with which its larva devour the larva, crysalides, 
and even eggs of other insects ; more especially those of the 
lepidopterous order. Some of them penetrate bodies of their 
prey, with their nu mberless brood, slowly corroding and con- 
suming, but killing at last. While others (the ophions) are 
attached to the skin of the larva, by the foot stalk of a Co- 
coon, through which their heads pierce the internal parts, 
while their tails remain in their own inclosures. This cruel 
operation frequently continues until the large and invaded 
larva letes its Cocoon, in the form of a general cover or 
envelope, when it dies consumed and exhausted. After | 
the family of Ichneumons come forth, first bursting through 
