218 FUNGI. 
ber to have seen before or since; the clothes of a person 
walking through the rusty field soon became orange-coloured 
from the abundance of spores. Graziers on this point again 
seem to be generally agreed, that they do not think “red rust” 
has been proved to be injurious to cattle. The direct influence 
of fungi on quadrupeds, birds, reptilia, &c., seems to be in- 
finitesimally small. 
Insects of various orders have been observed from time to 
time to become the prey of fungi.* That known at Guadaloupe 
under the name of La Guépe Végétale, or vegetable wasp, has 
been often cited as evidence that, in some instances at least, 
the fungus attacks the insect whilst still living. Dr. Madianna 
states that he has noticed the wasp still living with its in- 
cumbrance attached to it, though apparently in the last stage of 
existence, and sceming about to perish from the influence of its 
destructive parasite. This fungus is called by Tulasne Lorrubia 
sphecocephala.t About twenty-five species of this genus of 
spheriaceous fungi have been described as parasitic on insects. 
Five species are recorded in South Carolina, one in Penn- 
sylvania, found on the larve of the May-bug, and one other 
North American species on Nocturnal Lepidoptera, one in 
Cayenne, one in Brazil, on the larva of a Cicada, and one on a 
species of. ant, two in the West Indies, one in New Guinea on 
a species of Coccus, and one on a species of Vespa in Senegal. 
In Australia two species have been recorded, and two are natives 
of New Zealand. Dr. Hooker found two in the Khassya moun- 
tains of India, and one American species has also been found 
at Darjeeling. It has long been known that one species, which 
has a medicinal repute there, is found in China, whilst three 
have been recorded in Great Britain. Opinions are divided as 
to whether in these instances the fungus causes or is subsequent 
to the death of the insect. Itis generally the belief of ento- 
wologists that the death of the insect is caused by the fungus. » 
* Gray, G., ‘‘ Notices of Insects that are Known to Form the Bases of Fungoid 
Parasites.” London, 1858. 
+ Halsey, ‘‘ Ann. Lyceum,” New York, 1824, p. 125, 
+ Tulasne, ‘Selecta Fung. Carp.” vol. iii. p. 17. 
