[272] 
in the earth, and begins to vegetate. By the latter 
“ en d of July the tree is arrived at it's full growth, 
“ and refembles a coral branch; and is about three 
<c inches high, and bears leveral little pods, which 
<c dropping off become worms, and from thence 
“ flies, like the Englifh caterpillar.” An account of 
this extraordinary production, fimilar to the above, 
was given to Dr. Huxham by captain Gafcoign, who 
lately commanded the Dublin man of war, which 
hath been at Dominica. The doCtor fubjoins, that 
poflibly I may have heard of this fly; or feen it in 
the collections of the Britifh Mufeum, or Royal So- 
ciety ; but, if it is in neither, he believes he can pro- 
cure it to be fent to the Royal Society. 
Though the doCtor can by no means think the 
above relation true in all it’s circumffances, yet he 
is perfuaded there is fomething of reality in it ; which 
perhaps further accounts and obfervations may fet 
in a full and true light : though at prefent, as repre- 
fented, it feems quite repugnant to the ufual order of 
nature. 
As I had never feen this production myfelf, but 
had been informed that doCtor Hill had had the ex- 
amination of fome of them, I wrote to that gen- 
tleman to deflre to be informed of the refult of his 
enquiries. To which he very obligingly fent me the 
following anfwer. 
<c When colonel Melvil brought thefe flies from 
tc Guadalupe, lord Bute fent me the box of them to 
“ examine. The refult was this. There is in Mar- 
“ tinique a fungus of the Clavaria kind, different 
“ in fpecies from thofe hitherto known. It produces 
“ foboles from its fides. I called it therefore Cla- 
“ varia 
