This group of insects, called Gall-nut flies, deposits its eggs 

 in the leaves, buds, stalks, and even in the roots of plants, 

 thereby forming the various and curious galls which are com- 

 monly found upon the oak and other trees, rose bushes, &c. 

 One of them, C. Gallcs-tiiictoricB, is the origin of the Oak-gall 

 in Asia Minor, which is employed in making ink, dyeing, &c., 

 and another, there is little doubt, is the author of the bitter 

 apples alluded to in the Old Testament. Protected as the 

 larvae are in the heart of a hard ball, they are not secure from 

 the attacks of other Hymenoptera, which by means of their 

 ovipositors are enabled to pierce the galls, and lay their eggs 

 in the tender larvae, so that instead of the Cynips alone, a 

 tenfold greater number of Callimome (fol. 552.) and Ichneu- 

 monidaD often issue with them from the galls. 



The abdomen of a female that I dissected was filled with 

 eggs; the oviduct was attached near the superior angle and 

 curved vertically towards the base, and was exserted under or 

 between the laminse at a short distance from the ventral sheath. 

 Roesel has given figures of the Galls, larvae, pupae and imago 

 in pi. 35, 36, 52 and 55 of vol. iii. The following species 

 from my collection seem to be undescribed. 



4. nervosa Curt. Brit. Ent. j)l- 688 ? . 



July, Dover. It is distinguished from C. Ros(E by the large 

 ocelli, carinated scutel, dark hind legs, the absence of the brown 

 splash on the costa of the upper wings, and of the areolet. 



5. brevicornis Curt. Guide. Fem. black, shining; abdomen bright 

 ferruginous ; legs bright ochreous, tips of tarsi fuscous ; mandibles and 

 antennaj ferruginous, the latter brownish towards the apex, not much 

 longer than the head and thorax, 13-jointed, terminal joint the longest: 

 length \-\ line. Dover. 



12. pallidicornis Curt. Shining piceous; antennae mouth and legs 

 ochreous, the former shorter than the body, subclavate, 13-jointed, 3rd 

 joint the longest : ^ long. 



17. Anthracina Curt. Fewi. black, head minutely punctured ; abdo- 

 men piceous, beneath paler, legs lurid ochre, tips of tarsi brown, antennae 

 shorter than the body, subclavate, 15-jointed, brown, 2 basal joints ochre- 

 ous, 3rd the longest, wings long, transverse nervures of wings suffused 

 yellowish-brown : 1^ long. May, Coomb Wood. 



26. crassicornis Curt. Head and thorax black and punctured, abdo- 

 men shining piceous: autennse as long as the body, 15-jointed, ochreous, 

 apex brown, 3rd joint the stoutest and longest; legs piceous, anterior 

 ochreous, base of thighs, outside of tibiae and tips of tarsi piceous ; wings 

 ■with faint nervures : -J long. 



27. fulviceps Curt. Shining black, head and legs bright ochre; an- 

 tennae longer than the body, fuscous, base ochreous, 2 basal joints ovate, 

 3rd slender, scarcely longer than the following, wings very ample: -| long. 

 Bred from female Aphides by the late Mr. T. Carpenter. 



32. pedestris Curt. Shining piceous ; head large and black ; legs and 

 antennje ochreous, the latter fuscous beyond the middle, as long as the 

 body, 14-jointed, 2 basal joints stout ovate, 3rd a little longer: thighs 

 brownish at the base, tips of tarsi fuscous ; wings rudimentary : -A- a line 

 long. Southgate, Mr. Walker, and also No. 26. 

 For Mr. Walker's characters of Sections consult the 3rd 



vol. of the Ent. Mag. 



The Plant is Conium mactilatum, Common Hemlock, 



