Growth of Vegetables on the bodies of Animals. 27 
and probably. others not yet investigated. Further research 
may be expected to discover more. 
hirdly, that a part, at least, of this order of parasitica] 
vegetables, begin their work of annoyance, like the larvz of 
the Ichneumon, in the body of the living insect, and con- 
tinue it until the creature is killed by its destructive inroads. 
ourthly, that such of these mixed associations of vegeta- 
ble with animal substance, are not prone to rapid putrefac- 
tion, but remain entire long enough to be collected by natu- 
ralists, and become the objects of scientific inquiry. 
The chief or leading fact, intended herein to be establish- 
ed, is the derivation of nourishment by the vegetable, from 
the living animal. There is nothing more common than 
the conversion of animal matter by putrefaction and mixture, 
into manure, or a material for fertilizing land and support- 
ing vegetables. Gardeners and farmers are pEactitel eode 
mentators on the efficacy of composts abounding in excreted 
and decomposed animal products, to promote the growth of 
the plants they cultivate. If, therefore, the bodies of dead in-- 
sects, should sustain vegetables, the fact would only be con- 
formable to numberless other occurrences which happe 
mostevery day. ‘% 
The mind will perhaps be more easily reconciled to my 
conclusion, by considering other examples of vegetables 
growing upon living animals. Are not some of the Crusta- 
cea, as the Portunus, and more especially the Maja, of the 
New-York shores, the calcareous soil or base, on which a 
of animals, that bear the vegetable 
forest or harvest, and the Anatomist ought to trace the con-. 
nection between the two classes of beings. 
I thank you sincerely, for the parcel of excellent pamph- 
ets, written by yourself, which I lately received, I admire 
