Growth of Vegetables on the bodies of Animals. 2 
“ 'Tillandria asneoides.”” To my own mind it appears quite 
as likely that the seeds of the vegetable were planted on the 
larva or crysalis. It is not necessary to suppose’ that death 
must have preceded their insertion. 
In contemplating this subject, an idea has presented itself, 
‘that vegetables may be‘considered as in certain respects gain- 
ing an ascendancy over animals. In regard to the lepedop- 
terous insects, in particular, which commit such extensive 
“ravages upon spats it would almost seem that the vegetable 
tribes retaliated, or made reprisals. 
I have eagtas it expedient to offer this remark, notwith- 
‘standing the special consideration bestowed upon the veg: tat- 
ing fly of the fa ribbee Islands, by Dr. rags Soa in the Eng- 
fa ; pertainin 
roux, in the Memoirs of the French Acade 
for 1769; and the 7 mgenions speculations of Dr. Hill. 
main result from their researches has been, that the 
Jarva of individuals belonging to the family of Cicada, 
conce mselves among the dead leaves, to undergo their 
change, where many o. ‘them die. Aifier life has depart- 
ed, the species ef fungus, ane Clavaria, sprouts from 
the body, which serves as a soil, exactly adapted tc its — 
‘support. And thus is prodaced the peculiar compound 
one or more > vegetables ‘springing from the body of an 
mal. 
Be Edwards’ s Gleanings, Vol. VII. pl. 335, p. 263, there 
are figures of vegetating larva from the Island of Dominica. 
The vegetables were of the fungus order, ands arose from the 
heads of theinseets. He thinks the latter area iets. There 
were many of them found together, buried in the earth. In 
the next plate, No. 335, he has copied veget: ating wasps 
found near Havana, by Father Torrubia, and first published 
by him in Madrid. The vegetables seem to he different 
from each other, and from all that I possess. Yet they ap- 
pear to be the same that Watson was acquainted wi 
Three occurrences in this country deserve to be men 
ed. Stephen W. Williams, in a letter to me, dated Decheld 
Mass. March 29, 1824, describes a remarkable production of 
the kind. He sa on the authority of several most respecta- 
ble citizens, that they have repeatedly seen a vegetable gTow=- | 
ing cant oft the common grub, (melolontha?) They 
have ohserved them so many times, and in so many places, 
YOL, X1,—No, 1. 4 
tion. 
