282 OAK GALLS AND GALL INSECTS 



It is exceeding difficult to differentiate between the species 

 of this genus, as the different individuals vary to such an extent 

 among themselves that it is almost impossible to separate them 

 in many cases, the specific characters rarely remaining constant. 

 For this reason I have not here described the different species, 

 but an excellent account of this genus has been given by Mr. 

 Cameron.^ 



With regard to the galls to be hereafter described, the 

 in(]uilines inhal)iting them are also given in each case. 



Two other genera include insects found as inquilines in oak 

 galls, namely, Ceroptres (Hartig) and Scipholytus (Foerster). In 

 the former, one species, Ccroptves avator, is mentioned by Cameron 

 as present in galls of Anchicus nodnli from Clydesdale, and it is 

 also said to have been reared from Cynips kollari galls. The 

 genus Sapholytus contains only one British species, 5. connatus 

 (Htg.) also bred from Andriciis nodnli galls. The characters of 

 these two genera have been given by Mr. Cameron in his work 

 already referred to. 



It very often happens that after taking great trouble to 

 breed Cynipidae from a number of different galls one only 

 succeeds in rearing a large proportion of inquilines and parasites. 

 This is very naturally the cause of much disappointment, 

 especially when one is just commencing to collect. Synergidae 

 are ver)' easily mistaken for the gall makers, which they greatly 

 resemble, though as a rule one soon finds plenty of opportunity 

 for ascertaining their exact appearance. True parasites are 

 easily distinguished. 



Collecting Galls. 



To any one commencing a study of Oak galls who requires 

 to obtain specimens for a collection or for breeding purposes, a 

 great deal of time might be saved, in the case of some species, by 

 first looking through a collection such as that at South 

 Kensington and thus obtaining some of the idea of the exact 

 appearance of the galls before going out to search for them.^ 

 There are many species which are by no means easy to find even 

 when you ave aware of their exact appearance ; such galls as 



3 VaXer Cameron's Monograph of British J'hytopluigous Hynienoptera, vo\. iv. London 

 Ray Society, 1882-92. 



4 It is anticipated that by tlu- Spring of 1903 a typical collection of galls and gall-insects, 

 with drawings and other illustrations, will be placed in the Club's Epping Forest Museum in 

 Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, Chingford, Essex. — Ed. 



