112 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



When we consider the excessively small size of fungus spores' 

 and the ease with which they become disseminated, we can readily 

 imagine them lighting on the leaves on which the caterpillar is 

 feeding, and either being eaten with the food or entering by the 

 spiracles. I have not seen any speculation as to the reason of 

 so many of the caterpillars burying themselves before attaining 

 their full size. I think a very probable explanation of this is that, 

 having become infected with the spores in either of the ways 

 indicated, the gradual development of the fungus weakens the 

 caterpillar and induces the disposition to metamorphosis, just as 

 a similar early change of condition is very frequently induced in 

 other caterpillars which have been attacked by ichneumons or 

 other parasitic insects. The reason for the stipes almost invariably 

 springing from the same spot, near the head of the caterpillar, I 

 think is probably due to the position assumed by the caterpillar 

 after burying itself, with its head upwards. Naturally the fungus 

 would seek the shortest direction to the surface. The abnormal 

 examples of the spike growing from other parts of the body may 

 be attributed to accidental differences in position assumed by the 

 caterpillar. Usually there is only a plain stipes, which bears a 

 close resemblance to a miniature spike of the Australian grass- 

 tree ; but in some cases two independent spikes have sprung from 

 the head of the caterpillar, and more commonly the stipes 

 bifurcates at different points. Several of my specimens display 

 this peculiarity. 



I have made measurements of the length of the caterpillar, the 

 total length of the stipes, and the length of the portion of the 

 stipes carrying the spore conceptacles, in the specimens in my 

 collection. 



Specimen. Caterpillar. 



inches. 



3% 

 1% 



3 



m . .. 



2% 

 2% 

 2^ 

 23/s 

 2% 

 No. II ... 2% 



Probably the difference in length of the stipes is due to the 

 varying depths which the different individuals have buried them- 

 selves at. 



When some of the spore conceptacles from a dried specimen 

 are soaked for a few hours in water, a mass of spores become 

 liberated. These spores are long and slender, and are neatly 

 twisted together into distaff-shaped bundles. Probably these are 



