ANIMAL FUNGI. 



25 



which is subject to the growth of a fungus, and 

 is not unfrequently seen upon the wing with it 

 adhering to its body. One sph«^^"a Robertsia. 

 of the most curious in- 

 stances of a Uving animal 

 thus infested was disco- 

 vered in New Zealand. 

 There is in those islands 

 a caterpillar of a large 

 moth, which inhales the 

 sporules of a fungus called 

 Sphoeria Robertsia. When 

 this happens the caterpil- 

 lar buries itself in the 

 ground, and the whole in- 

 terior of the body is re- 

 placed by a black mass of 

 spores. One of these ge- 1 

 nerally seems privileged to 

 grow, and rises from the 

 nape of the neck of the 

 caterpillar into a tapering 

 fungus, as represented in 

 the annexed figures. If 

 ])y any chance this stem is 

 Ijroken off, another rises to 

 succeed it ; but, c;encrally 



' ' o J Caterpillar. 



