NORTH AMERICAN HYMENOPTERA. 65 



I discovered that several English sparrows and other small birds of 

 different species had taken possession of the tree and were devouring 

 the insects as fast as they appeared. I saw a species of creeper peer 

 into a cluster of galls and seize a fly before it was out of the gall. 

 Of course my effort amounted to nothing, and the mystery around 

 the second generation remains, so far as I know, still unsolved. 



That birds peck open galls of various species for the larvae they 

 contain is well known to every entomologist. 



Gall-flies. — Entire body black. Anteunie with 13 joints, first joint large, 

 second round, third nearly one-half longer than the two preceding taken to- 

 gether; third to the ninth gradually shorter, and each hirger at the apex than 

 at the base. Thorax hairy, two parallel lines from the collare to the middle of 

 the mesonotura smooth; median line begins on the border of the scutellum, but 

 soon disappears; parapsidal grooves heavy at their origin on the scutellum, but 

 disappearing before reaching the collare; line above the base of the wings well 

 marked, deepest at the scutellum; scutellum hairy, fovese wanting. Wings 

 slightly smoky, areolet present, cubitus disappearing before reaching the first 

 transverse vein; second transverse heavy, especially at the base of the open 

 radial area. Legs very dark brownish red, ungues two toothed. Abdomen black, 

 shining, the first segment e.xtremely short, making the second appear sessile on 

 the metathorax; the sides of the second are covered with hairs, but there is a 

 narrow, hairless line on the dorsum ; the third and fourth segments are separated 

 by a fine line from each other and from the second. Length : body, .19 inch. ; 

 antenufe, .1.3 inch.; wings, .25 inch. 



Though this species has long borne the above name, given by me 

 as a manuscript designation, it has not till now been published. 

 Intending at the time to publish immediately, I sent specimens to 

 several entomologists in this country and Europe ; also sent photo- 

 graphs to some of my friends. I had at the time a full description 

 of the gall and fly written, but while holding it to send with other 

 matter for publication a brief notice of a similar gall found in the 

 West appeared in the first volume of the " American Entomologist." 

 Dr. Walsh, who wrote the paper, did not describe the species fully, 

 but said that it was found on the Burr oak, and that it differed in 

 several particulars from C. globulus Harris. His brief description 

 led me to think that his and mine might be identical, even though 

 they grew on different species of oak, and I determined to withhold 

 mine till I could settle the question. The death of Dr. Walsh not 

 very long after, and later still the destruction of his collections in 

 the great Chicago fire, has made the settlement of the question diffi- 

 cult, if not impossible. If at any time their identity is established 

 his published name has priority, and I yield to the rule in such cases 

 most cheerfully. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XVII. (9) FEBRUAKY, 1890. 



