484 Mr. A. S. Olliff on Australian 
that if the term  plant-worm” has any meaning it should be 
applied to those minute eel-like worms, properly called 
Nematodes, which are the cause of numerous plant-diseases. 
In this work, as the author points out, a free use has been 
made of Gray’s observations, and, indeed, as far as the larger 
species, which more particularly interest’ us, are concerned, 
Dr. Cooke’s remarks are almost entirely based on the work of 
Gray. ‘The whole subject, however, and the questions of the 
origin, habits, and mode of growth of these curious fungi, must 
obviously be investigated by the entomologist as well as the 
botanist before satisfactory conclusions can be arrived at; and 
it is from the botanist’s point of view mainly that Dr. Cooke's 
observations have a special value. The classification put 
forward by him is here adopted, and the characters upon which 
the genus Cordyceps has been subdivided (the name given by 
Fries to the species which live as parasites on root-eating and 
truly subterranean insects) are taken from his work. 
One of the fancy stories in regard to the origin of these 
fungi which has gained wide currency is that the seeds of the 
rata-tree (Metrosideros robusta) are swallowed by the cater- 
pillar, that they then germinate, kill the caterpillar, and grow 
in the ordinary way. Some, indeed, are so firmly convinced 
that these vegetable caterpillars are the veritable roots of the 
trees, that instances have been known where they have been 
deliberately planted in the confident belief that a 10w of rata- 
trees would result. Another singular and equally erroneous 
belief is that the sweet-potato (Convolvulus batatus) may be 
grown ina similar way, a superstition which has probably 
arisen from the fact that the caterpillars of the large convol- 
vulus hawk-moth (Protuparce or Sphinx convolvult, Linn.) 
have, by many ill-informed writers, been supposed to be the 
hosts of these fungi. This supposition, as far as | have been 
able to ascertain, has not a particle of evidence to support it, 
although it has gained considerable credence, particularly 
from observers in the early part of the century. 
According to Pereira * a Chinese species (Cordyceps sinen- 
sts, Berk.) is used for medicinal purposes. He states that it 
is “used only in the Emperor’s palace, as a strengthening 
and renovating substance, and is supposed to possess proper- 
ties similar to those ascribed to ginseng ft. It is recommended — 
in cases where the powers or the system have been reduced 
by over-exertion or sickness. A duck is stuffed with five 
drachms of the fungus, and the bird roasted by a slow fire. 
" Quoted by Gray, ‘ Notices of Insects, Xe.,’ p. 12. 
+ Another Chinese medicine. 
