FUNGI PARASITIC ON BUTTERFLIES. 229 



Hesperid^ (3 species). 



Spilothi/rus alceae. — Several specimens. Celles, Ciergnon, 

 Valley of Poix, St. Hubert, Grupont. 



Synchthus malvce. — Very abundant. Ab. lavaterce. — One 

 specimen. St. Hubert. 



Nisoniades tages. — Very abundant. 



FUNGI PARASITIC ON BUTTERFLIES. 

 By J. C. RicKARD. 



In the July number of the ' Entomologist ' {ante, p. 215) are 

 two paragraphs referring to a paper on the above subject (ante, 

 p. 170). The first is by Dr. Sharp, who correctly states that he 

 pointed out at the meeting at which the paper was read that the 

 objects in question are known as androconia, &c. He also exhi- 

 bited some numbers of a German magazine in which several of 

 them are figured. The other paragraph is by Mr. S. H. Scudder, 

 who states that if I '' had ever studied the androconia of butter- 

 flies, he would have at once understood why his supposed 

 ' fungi' were confined to the male sex of the insects' examined." 

 He then recommends me to examine Wonfor's articles and 

 illustrations bearing on this subject. I am obliged to Mr. 

 Scudder for this reference. 



Neither of these gentlemen seems to have personally investi- 

 gated the subject, both having referred me to the works of other 

 entomologists. As their remarks throw considerable doubt on 

 my statement as to the fungoid nature of these organisms, I 

 would like to give some reasons for so regarding them. 



On the present occasion I will confine my remarks to the 

 parasites of the Pierids mentioned in my paper, as of these 

 I can speak with more confidence than I could of those found on 

 Satyrids and Lycaenids. I assert without the least hesitation 

 that all the figures of the so-called androconia of the Pierids 

 that I have seen or heard of represent them upside down. To 

 prove this, stain the wing of Pieris hrassicce and transfer the 

 scales (and fungi), while still wet, to a slip of glass. If these 

 are microscopically examined through the glass slip, it will be 

 seen that the apex or free extremity of the fungus is that part 

 which has hitherto been regarded as the basal portion. I believe 

 this error has mainly arisen from the fact that the scales and 

 fungi point in opposite directions : if the fingers of one hand are 

 locked in those of the other, the one set of fingers will represent 

 the scales, and the other set the fungi. 



If these objects are modified hairs or scales, there is every 

 reason to believe that their surfaces would exhibit striations. Of 



