THE PAGE OF NATURE. 231 



nulatm and muricatus in pine woods. In New Zealand, a 

 remarkable group of fungi called Sphceria Eobertsii grows 

 from the head of the caterpillar of the Hepialus virescens, 

 a species of moth, when it buries itself among the moss 

 in the woods to undergo its metamorphosis. In appearance 

 it is a somewhat crooked, long, slender stalk terminating 

 in the spike-like fructification. Its growth destroys the 

 caterpillar ; a striking proof that a retrogade step is some- 

 times to be found in the animal kingdom the grub instead 

 of developing itself into a beautiful butterfly being replaced 

 by a nauseous fungus. It is so common and prominent a 

 species in New Zealand, that it has a name in the native 

 language, and is associated with some of the ancient Maori 

 superstitions. In the West Indies, wasps called by the 

 inhabitants Guepes vegetantes, may often be seen flying 

 about with fungoid plants as long and nearly as bulky as 

 their own bodies growing upon them ; while in this 

 country itself, it is by no means rare to see a humble- 

 bee, or a common blue-bottle fly, that had been killed by 

 the growth of a club-shaped Sphseria from its body, from 

 half an inch to an inch in length, of a sienna brown or 

 lemon colour. Flies are usually attacked by a fungoid 

 disease about the end of autumn, when the cold damp 

 weather which then prevails has reduced the vitality of 

 their bodies to the lowest point, and rendered them 

 incapable of resisting external agencies. At this time 

 they forsake their accustomed haunts in the open air, 

 congregating within doors for warmth and shelter, and 

 may be seen in considerable numbers adhering to window 

 sills, walls, and various articles of furniture in our rooms. 

 In a few days they die, but strange to say their appear- 



