1 68 AN ACARDI ACEvE. 



doubt this refers to the galls under notice ; they began to be imported 

 into Europe about 1724, and are noticed by GeofFroy^ as Oreilles des 

 Indes, but they seem to have soon disappeared from the market. 

 Pereira directed attention to them in 18-i4, since which time they 

 have formed a regular and abundant article of import both from China 

 and Jaj)an. 



Formation — Chinese galls are vesicular protuberances formed on 

 the leafstalks and branches of the above-mentioned tree, by the 

 puncture of an insect, identified and figured by Doubleday^ as a species 

 of Aphis, and subsequently named provisionally by Jacob Bell 

 A. chinensis. We have no account by any competent observer of 

 their growth ; and as to their development, we can only imagine it 

 from the analogous productions seen in Europe. According to Double- 

 day, it is probable that the female aphis punctures the upper surllice of 



growth 



leafstalk) 



the creature takes possession and brings forth a progeny which hyes 

 by puncturing the inner surface of their home, thus much increasing 



outward direction. Meanwhile 



growing 



the aperture contracts and finally closes, imprisoning all tlie inmates. 

 Here they live and multiply until, as in the case of the pistacia gall ot 

 Europe, the sac ruptures and allows of their escape. This, we may 

 imagine, takes place at the period when, after some generations ail 

 wingless and perhaps all female (for the female aphis produces lor 

 several generations without impregnation), a winged generation is 

 brought forth of both sexes. These may then fly to other spots, ano 

 deposit eggs for a further propagation of their race. , . , 



The galls are collected when their green colour is changing im 

 yeUow ; they are then scalded.' 



Description— The galls are light and hollow, varying iu ^engt 

 from 1 to 2^ inches, and of extremely diverse and irregular form, a 

 simplest are somewhat egg-shaped, the smaller end being ^^^^f^^ the 

 the leafstalk ; but the form is rarely so regular, and more otten ^ 

 body of the gall is distorted by numerous knobby or born-like pro .^ 

 berances or branches ; or the gall consists of several lobes ^^\*^{|°.jje 

 their lower part and gradually attenuated to the point by Y^^^ j. 

 excrescence is attached to the leaf.' But though the form_ is ^Jj,?^^^ j^^e 

 able, the structure of these bodies is very characteristic, ^'f^^^^.-^^^ 

 striated towards the base, and completely covered on other parts 

 a thick, velvety, grey down, which rubbed off on the promjneiices, .^ 

 plays the reddish-brown colour of the shell itself. The latie 



1 AUm. de CAcadtmle royale des Sciences, ^ We have once met with S'l;^^ ""f ordi- 



Pans. 1724. 324. -Also Bu Halde, Deacrip. from Shanghai whicli ^^i^f ^^;?- 7Eornea. 



,--tf ii^-""^."'' '^^ ^"^ ^'"■"^' i"- (1'-'=^ Haye, nary Chinese galls in not beinfe ^^^^^ 



}jr^^ ^\t~^-^- "I>es Ou Poey tsl" but aU of an elongated ovoid toim,^,^^.^^^ 



llieaiithor quotes numerous medicinal pointed at the upper end, »" ^gy 



applications for these galls. moreover a strong cheesy s«if " ;,,,4m S- 



J n-T""- n^ot?- ^"- ^^8^8) 310. be derived from ^'•^''y''r Ifectly acc^r^^ 



! £^'^-. t i^^?^) 128. et Z., though they do not perfect^ ^^^.^^ 



; Stanisl. Juhen et P. Champion, Indus- with the depressed pear-shajfyi (Flor<^ 



1869. 95. - - ^^ 



Zttccanni 



Japonkaj tab. 94). 



