246 FUNGI. 



genera Sporormia and Sordaria, whilst Fuckel * proposes a dis- 

 tinct group of Sphceriacei, under the name of Fimicoli, in which 

 he includes as genera Coprolepa, Hypocopra, Delitschia, Sporor- 

 niia, Pleophragmia, Malinvernia, Sordaria, and CercopJiora. The 

 two species of Pilobolus, and some of Mucor, are also found on 

 dung, Isaria felina on that of cats, Stilbum Jimetarium and a 

 few other moulds, and amongst Agarics some species of Coprinus. 

 Animal substances are not, as a rule, prolific in the production 

 of fungi. Ascobolus saccliarinus and one or two others have 

 been found upon old leather. Onygena of two or three species 

 occurs on old horn, hoofs, &c. Cheese, milk, &c., afford a few 

 forms, but the largest number infest dead insects, either under 

 the mouldy form of Isaria or the more perfect condition of Tor- 

 rubia, and occasionally under other forms. 



Robin f has recorded that three species of Bracfiinus, of the 

 order Coleoptera, have been found infected, whilst living, with a 

 minute yellow fungus which he calls Laboulbenia Rougeti, and 

 the same species has been noted on other beetles. Torrubia 

 Melolonthce J has been described by Tulasne as occurring on the 

 maybug or cockchafer, which is allied to, if not identical with, 

 Cordyceps Ravenelii, B. and C., and also that described and figured 

 by M. Fougeroux de Bondaroy. Torrubia curculionum, Tul., 

 occurs on several species of beetles, and seems to be by no means 

 uncommon in Brazil and Central America. Torrubia ccespitosa, 

 Tul., which may be the same as Cordyceps Sinclairi, B.,|| is found 

 on the larvse of Orthoptera in New Zealand, Torrubia Miquelii 

 on the larvse of Cicada in Brazil, and Torrubia sobolifera on the 

 pupse of Cicada in the West Indies. A romantic account is 

 given of this in an extract cited by Dr. Watson in his communi- 

 cation to the Royal Society, ^f " The vegetable fly is found in 

 the island Dominica, and (excepting that it has no wings) re- 



* Fuckel, " Symbolse Mycologicse," p. 240. 



+ Robin, " Vege"t. Parasites," p. 622, t. viii. f. 1, 2. 



$ Tulasne, "Selecta Fung. Carp." iii. p. 12. 



" Hist, de 1'Acad. des Sciences," 1769. Paris, 1772. 



|| Berkeley, "Crypt. Bot.' p. 73; Hooker, "New Zealand Flora,'' ii. 338. 



H " Philosophical Transactions," liii. (1763), p. 271. 



