THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 113 



the macro-spores, and there is most likely some other form of 

 fructification yielding microspores. The conceptacles are arranged 

 closely packed together round the end of the stipes, just like the 

 drupes on the cones of the Australian Macrozamia or of the 

 Pandanus, and much resemble these in shape. 



Similar entomogenous fungi have been met with in many 

 different countries, infesting insects, spiders, &c, but the New 

 Zealand species is remarkable for its large dimensions. Hoch- 

 stetter states that it is eaten by the Maori.* A species occurring 

 in China is much valued by the Chinese as a medicine. 



In Fiji, on the Rewa River, I found a fully-matured moth, a 

 species of Bombyx, the body of which was covered all over with 

 slender stipes about a quarter of an inch long, proceeding from 

 a mass of mycelium which filled the body of the insect. The 

 moth was dead when I found it. This specimen I gave to the 

 Hon. Wm. Macleay, of Sydney, in whose collection it now is. 



At a meeting of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, in 

 1S87, a collection of these fungi from Mr. Macleay's museum was 

 exhibited, and a short description, taken from the " Proceedings " 

 of the society, will be of interest here : — 



"(1) Labelled New South Wales, shows some large lepidop- 

 terous larvge, with the stipes, rising from the tail, as long and as 

 thick as the caterpillar, and terminating in a double or sometimes 

 single large oblong somewhat compressed club. (2) Specimens of 

 the well-known New Zealand Isaria, the stipes springing from the 

 head, and ten inches in length. (3) Specimens from Ash Island 

 of larvae of Rhyssonotus nebulosus in a similar state, the fungus 

 rising from the head in thin stipes and terminating in a small 

 round club. (4) Some cicada pupae similarly attacked (New 

 South Wales). (5) Larva of an Elater with a number of thread- 

 like growths on the sides of the body (New South Wales). (6) 

 An homopterous insect, with fine thread-like growths from its tail 

 (New South Wales). (7) Two Dipterous insects from Cairns, 

 with a short thick stipes terminating in a round club, springing 

 from the base of each wing, evidently a Cordyceps. (8) Four 

 different species of Hymenoptera from Cairns, but apparently 

 attacked by the same fungus, which springs from all parts of the 

 body in long, very thin and hair-like filaments. (9) A homop- 

 terous insect from Cairns, completely enveloped beneath in a 

 growth of short barbed-looking spines. (10) In three spiders, 

 also from Cairns, shortish, thickish, and rather pointed growths 

 spring from different parts of the body, (n) Two wasps from 

 Cuba have a longish stipes rising between the anterior legs." 



In Nature, vol. xiv., p. 224, mention is made of a specimen 

 from Queensland being exhibited at a meeting of the London 

 * Hochstetter, "New Zealand," p. 171. 

 * " Princ. Lo. Soc, N. S.W.," 2nd series, vol. ii. , p. 109. 



