252 The Scottish Naturalist. 



Fraxinus excelsior L. — I found galls of Diplosis botularia 

 near Ballater, on the Dee (at 700 feet above the sea), at 

 Lintrathen, and at Dunkeld. 



Plantago lanceolata L. — The galls occur on the flower-stalks, 

 usually near the head, but may be near the root. Usually 

 only one occurs on each stalk, but sometimes there are two. 

 Each consists of a swelling of the stalk uniformly all round, 

 varying in length from %' to 2 /i , and averaging in breadth 

 }i'. It is strongly marked with the ribs of the stalk, which 

 it resembles in colour and surface. Each contains one 

 larva of Mecinus. Found in June by Mr. William Banner- 

 man, on Old Aberdeen Links. I have since found them 

 there very commonly, but have seen them nowhere else. Dr. 

 Buchanan White, however, informs me that he has found them, 

 (and similar galls on P. maritima,) at Col vend, in Kircud- 

 brightshire. I have also found on the Links galls at. the base 

 of the leaves, consisting of a uniform swelling, and which 

 seem to be formed by the same insect. 



Rhinanthus crista-galli L. — Near Aberdeen I found a good 

 number of examples of this plant treated by larvae of 

 Cecidomyia similarly to the leaves of Valerian. 



Thymus serpyllum L. — (a) The galls on Thymus serpyllum, 

 formerly described by me, are caused by mites [Phytoptus 

 ( ' Calycophthora) serpylli\ and the larvae mentioned as occur- 

 ing in them are only inquilines. (b) The gall consists of a 

 flower-bud which becomes swollen to at least twice its 

 natural size, still remaining immature, like an ordinary bud, 

 and its external appearance otherwise remaining unchanged. 

 On removing the calyx a sort of closed sac is found inside, 

 ovate in form, green with a pink apex. Calyx about %' 

 by y%. Inner-sac about }i' by * 6 '. Sac thin-walled, mono- 

 thalamous. Each contains one larva of a Cecidomyia. Usu- 

 ally several galls occur on the same head. Very common 

 on Old Aberdeen Links. 



Nepeta Glechoma Benth. — (a) Near Dunkeld, in the autumn 

 of 1872, I found galls of Cecidomyia bursaria Bremi, pretty 

 commonly on leaves of N. Glechoyna. They occur almost 

 always on the upper surface of the lamina, very seldom on the 

 petiole. They resemble in shape rifle-bullets contracted at 

 the base ; length ^', breadth a ~ s '. They are thickly haired; 

 the hairs are greyish, the gall itself green. They are thin- 

 walled, and enclose a large cavity containing one orange larva. 



