i88i.; 259 



265 ; xv, p. 12). Dr. Adler has just published a very extended memoir on the same 

 subject in the " Zeitschrift fur wissenschaftliche Zoologie," Bd. 53, pp. 151 — 246 

 (February, 1881), in which he gives the results of his experiences concerning a very 

 large number of oak-gall Cynipidce, and illustrates his memoir by two very excellent 

 folded chromo-lithographic plates with figures of the galls, in which the latter are 

 delineated with a truth to nature rarely equalled. It is not pretended in this short 

 notice to fully detail the results obtained by Dr. Adler, and the modus operandi. 

 The results amount briefly to these : — 



Parthenog-enetic Brood. Sexual Brood. 



Neuroterus lenticularis is changed to Spathegaster baccarum. 

 „ IcBviusculus „ „ albipes. 



„ numismatis „ „ vesicatrix. 



„ fumipennis „ „ tricolor. 



Aphilotrix radicis „ Andricus noduli. 



„ Sieboldi „ „ testaceipes. 



„ corticis „ „ gemmatus. 



„ globuli „ „ infiator. 



„ collaris „ „ curvator. 



„ fecundatrix „ „ pilosus. 



„ callidoma „ „ cirratus. 



„ Malpighii „ „ nudus. 



„ autumnalis „ „ ramuli. 



DryopTianta scutellaris „ Spathegaster Taschenbergi. 



„ longiventris „ „ similis. 



„ divisa „ „ verrucosus. 



JBiorhiza aptera „ Teras terminalis. 



„ renum „ Trigonaspls crustalis. 



Neuroterus ostreus „ Spathegaster aprilinus ? . 



In the following only one brood, and that parthenogenetic, and not dimorphic, 

 was obtained, viz. : Aphilotrix semilunatus, A. marginalis, A. quadrilineatus, and 

 A. albopunctatus. 



There are sufficient materials in the list above given to excite the astonishment 

 of entomologists, and to induce them to follow up the author's observations, not only 

 on the species named, but also on other gall-flies. 



Perhaps one of the most remarkable couplings is that of Biorhiza aptera (the 

 root-gall of the oak) and Teras terminalis (the common oak-apple) ; the insect of 

 the former is always apterous, and must occasionally climb 50 or 60 feet in order to 

 deposit its eggs in the twigs on which the " oak-apples " are produced. 



The forms are divided into the Neuroterus-gYO\x^, the Aphilotrix-growp, the 

 Dryophanta-growp, and the B ior h iza-gvowp. 



The memoir concludes with an examination of the anatomical structure of the 

 ovipositor in Cynipidce and of the manner in which the eggs are laid. 



All Entomologists interested in this question should study this memoir : the 

 plates will enable them to identify most (if not all) of the British oak-galls, and 

 will perhaps lead to the discovery of others. — B. McLachlan, Lewisham : 14th 

 March, 1881. 



Sehirus 2-guttatus and other Semiptera near Hastings. — On Saturday last, my 

 brother and self took from moss, growing in a good-sized wood at Guestling, a nice 

 series of the above. Believing it to be uncommon, I thought it was worth while 



