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. 



