«J7 
the Empusa developed in the living insect. 1 do not remember 
ever seeing the blow-fly attacked by this disease. 
The Micro-fungi are perhaps the most remarkable of all the 
simpler forms of life, and although so delicate, we have, I think, 
undoubted traces of their existence as early as the chalk period. 
Many years ago a paper, by my old friend Mr. Rose, was read 
before the Microscopic Society of London, calling attention to the 
traces left by some species of fungoid parasite permeating the 
scales of Beryx ornatus found in the chalk, ^fany years °after. 
Professor Kblliker detected similar traces in the horny skeleton of 
a sponge, and in various species of foraminifera, a parasitic growth 
frequently occurs j nor are the shells of the mollusca safe from 
the fangs of a vegetable parasite. I have frequently observed it in 
fragments of shells found in dredgings from various localities, and 
similar ramifications are almost invariably to be found between the 
lamina) of the shells of the chalk terebratulce . 
Glass seems particularly liable to the growth of the mycelia of 
some species of fungus. I he inner surfaces of lenses composing 
the object glasses of telescopes, if not cemented together by Canada 
balsam, are often much impaired by the growth of some kind of 
micro-fungus, and in fact permanently injured, as the surface of 
the glass becomes eroded. Thus not only does organic matter 
become the prey of parasitic organism, but even inorganic cannot 
escape scathless, but we find that destruction of one form of life 
results in the construction of some other phase of organic existence. 
“ How all things live and work and ever blending, 
Weave one vast whole from beings ample range ; 
How powers celestial rising and descending. 
Their golden buckets ceaseless interchange ; 
Their flight, on rapture-breathing pinions winging 
From heaven to earth their genial influence bringing, 
Through the wide whole their chimes melodious ringing." 
( Goethe. ) 
f 2 
