'.2 



KEW GARDENS. 



taining the perfect insect and larva of tlie creature, a Hawk motli, 

 Hepialits virescens, wliich is preyed on by the CaterpiUar Fungus, 

 S^^hoeria Rohertsii. The caterpillar buries itself in the earth to 

 undergo transformation into the perfect insect ; while it is lying 

 dormant there, the fungus inserts a root into the nape of its neck, 

 feeds and flourishes on the animal matter, and without destroying 

 the form of a victim, at last converts it into a mummy. A simi- 

 lar slaughter of larvae is performed in Van Dieman's Land by a re- 

 presentative fungus, the Sphoeria Giinnii ; and another carries on 

 the same work in China, Sphoeria sineiisis — while the S. entomor- 

 hiza tries it even in these parts, so far removed from canibalism. 

 Living wasps have been taken in the West Indies with a fungus 

 growing from their bodies. Still animal-feeders are not common 

 among plants — unless we include those orchids which a cockney 

 visitor to the Gardens asserted to live entirely on Aair ! 



The Museum not only communicates positive truth, but aids in 

 the dissipation of vulgar error. Thus, it clears the poor darnel, 

 Loliiun arvense^ from an unjust imputation. ^ Darnel,' says the 

 Museum, through Professor Henslow, * is generally reputed to be 

 noxious, and is added to beer (or something else under that name) 

 to increase its intoxicating propei'ties. But De Candolle considers 

 its ill report to be a popular fallacy, and says it is used by the 

 French peasantry in times of scarcity.' Grains of the calumnia- 

 ted grass are shown, looking not unlike grains of rye, whence its 

 name of rye-grass ; and Edward Salmon, labourer, of Hitcham, 

 Suflblk, sends half a loaf (proverbially better than none) of Dar- 

 nel bread, exhibited at his Horticultural show — (we suppose the 

 bold fellow dared to eat the other half) — in appearance better 

 than many a loaf of rye-bread which we have seen used as the 

 common food of man and beast, but never had the heroism to 

 taste. It is true, however, that the darnel, hke rye, is apt to be 

 attacked by the ergot ; and persons eating rye-bread made from 

 flour mixed with ergot are sometimes paralysed. The ergot itself 

 affords a useful but dangerous drug, and of uncertain efficacy.— 

 Some able practitioners have have no faith in it for good. 



Some light is also thrown on certain little quackeries, of not 

 profound ingenuity. If dyspeptic patients were told that their 

 sufferings would be relieved by a simple farinaceous diet, they 

 might choose to be sceptically scornful ; but if they are recom- 

 mended, by advertisement, to breakfast on a something with a 



