PAKASITES OF THE TETTIGIDJE. 37 



the American Cicadas.* M. Fourgeau, however, before 

 this time, had described the same or a hke growth as a 

 remarkable instance of a reverse action, — namely, that 

 of a vegetable feeding on an animal. The name 

 Clavaria was then given to this " animal-plaat," on 

 account of the branching stalks of the fungus, which 

 are terminated by tuberculous masses, having the 

 appearance of little clubs. The root of this plant is 

 described as chiefly covering the skin of the body of 

 the insect, and extending partly over the region of the 

 head. This parasitic growth was found chiefly to 

 attack the chrysalides of Cicadae. 



Dr. Hills, of Martinique, subsequently stated that 

 the Cicadge of that island are subject to a similar 

 attack of vegetable parasitism. 



After digestion in spirits of wine the plant could be 

 separated from the insect, without injury to either 

 itself or its host. 



Prof. Charles Eiley, in his researches in the history 

 of the American Cicada scptendecem, remarks that if the 

 winged insects be accidentally and extensively muti- 

 lated, yet not killed ; a species of fungus fixes itself on 

 the livmg bodies, and burrows amongst the soft tissues 

 in such a manner as speedily to convert them into a 

 mass of spore-like powder, resulting in the entire death 

 of the insect. 



M. Pasteur's classical investigations on the nature of 

 pibrine and muscardine are fresh in the memories of 

 most readers. In these * Memoires ' he shows how the 

 silk-cultivator may shield himself from immense loss, 

 by taking due precautions against the attacks of 

 fungoid growths, which seem somewhat analogous to 

 those above noted in the Cicadae. 



With reference to the insect foes of the Tettigidae 

 we may take first in order the simpler organised group 

 of the Acarina, Only a brief notice, however, can be 

 given in this place of an interesting subject. 



* See Kearsley on Cicada, * English Cyclopaedia,' London, 1802. 



