220 FUNGI. 
which they die, with their legs extended and head depressed, 
the body and wings soon becoming covered with a minute white 
mould, the joints of which fall on the surrounding object. Ex- 
amples are readily distinguished when they settle on windows 
and thus succumb to their foe. Mr. Gray says that a similar 
mould has been observed on individuals of the wasp family. 
A Gryllotalpa was found in a wood near Newark, Delaware, 
U.S., upon turning overalog. The insect was seen standing 
very quietly at the mouth of its oval cell, which is formed 
in the earth, having a short curved tube to the surface. Upon 
taking it up it exhibited no signs of movement, though perfectly 
fresh and lifelike in appearance. On examining it next morning’ 
it still presented no signs of life. Every part of the insect was 
perfect, not even the antenne being broken. Upon feeling it, 
it was very hard and resistant, and on making an incision 
through the thorax it exhaled a fungoid odour. The insect had 
been invaded by a parasitic fungus which everywhere filled the 
animal, occupying the position of all the soft tissue, and extend- 
ing even into the tarsal joints. It formed a yellowish or cream- 
coloured compact mass.* 
The destructive silk-worm disease, Botrytis Bassiana, is also 
a fungus which attacks and destroys the living insect, concern- 
ing which an immense deal has been written, but which has not 
yet been eradicated. It has also been supposed that alow form 
or imperfect condition of a mould has much to do with the 
disease of bees known as “ foul brood.’ + 
Penicillium Fieberi, figured by Corda on a beetle, was doubt- 
Jess developed entirely after death, with which event it had 
probably nothing whatever to do.f{ Sufficient, however, has 
been written to show that fungi have an influence on insect life, 
and this might be extended to other animal forms, as to spiders, 
on which one or two species of Isaria are developed, whilst 
Dr. Leidy has recorded observations on Julus§ which may be 
* Leidy, ‘‘ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil.” 1851, p. 204. 
+ ‘‘Gardener’s Chronicle,” November 21, 1868. 
t Corda, ‘* Prachtfora,” pl. ix. 
§ Leidy, ‘‘ Fauna and Flora within Living Animals,” in ‘Smithsonian Con. 
tributions to Knowledge.” 
