8 
Massee. — A Revision of 
The species of Cordyceps are spoken of as parasites, because 
it is known that in several instances the fungus attacks the 
insect while still alive ; and in all probability this condition of 
things is the rule, although the fruiting stage may not be 
developed until after the death of the host. 
Distribution. 
The genus is cosmopolitan, being best represented in 
temperate regions. Taking into consideration only the fifty- 
one fully described species, their distribution is as follows : — 
Old world ... 27 species. 
New world ... 29 species. 
There are 22 species peculiar to the Old World, and 23 
species peculiar to the New World, distributed as follows: — 
Old World. 
Europe, 8 species. 
Asia, 5 
Africa, 1 „ (Only 2 species recorded). 
Australasia, 6 „ (Only 1 additional species recorded.) 
East Indies, 2 „ 
New World. 
North America, 9 species. (All from the United States.) 
West Indies, 4 „ 
South America, 8 „ 
Six species are common to the Old and New World, viz. 
C. clavulata, C. myrmecophila , C. entomorrhiza , C. militarise 
C. sphingum , C. armeniaca : all British except the last 
named. 
C. ento 7 norrhiza has the widest distribution of any known 
species, being recorded from Europe, Asia, Africa, United 
States, Australia, and New Zealand. 
The Australasian species are remarkable for their gigantic 
size, as indeed are also the larvae on which they are para- 
sitic. C. entomorrhiza is the only species found in this region 
that is not peculiar to it. 
