THE WONDERFUL FUNGUS TRIBE 



tain caterpillar. It grows rapidly to the length of sev- 

 eral inches, gradually absorbing the body of the insect, 

 and at length takes root in the ground and continues 

 its growth. 



In the Chinese apothecaries' shops we may obtain a. 

 queer bundle, like a small bunch of crooked dried fag- 

 ots, about four inches in length. They are powdered 

 and used as medicine by the innocent Celestials, and 

 are a regular article in their pharmacopoeia. It needs 

 but a second glance to see that these dried sticks con- 

 sist of a long-stemmed fungus attached to the head of a 

 wrinkled dead caterpillar, a species known as the Sphae- 

 ria sinensis in the technical works. 



These are only a few of the typical eccentricities of 

 this wonderful tribe of fungous 

 growths. Almost any half-hour's 

 walk in the country will show 

 us many equally curious. 

 The instance of the chest- 

 nut-spine fungus is but one 

 of many similar surprises in 

 store for the amateur fun- 

 gologist. 



