124 HYMENOPTERA. 



announce that the insect has made its escape. The 

 gall-nuts of commerce which grow on the Quercus 

 infectoria in the Levant, are employed in making 

 ink. It was at first supposed that the oak galls of the 

 Cynips Kollari were identical with the gall of com- 

 merce, but it is properly recognised now as a distinct 

 species. 



The large oak '' apples" give birth not to one indi- 

 vidual onl}^, but to a multitude. Those small circular 

 flattened scales — often of a pretty pink hue, hairy 

 on the upper surface, but smooth underneath — that 

 you may see to cover the under side of oak leaves 

 in great abundance, commonly called oak spangles, 

 are the produce of the little Gall-insect, the Cijnips 

 Longipennis (Fab.), which makes its appearance 

 long after the leaves have fallen in the month of 

 ]\Iarch. 



The oak-apple galls are produced by Ci/iiips termi- 

 nalls ; a large woody gall found on the roots of oak 

 trees, is produced by Cynips aptera. The spongy or 

 rather mossy substance, often of a brilliant crimson, 

 common on the wild rose, is the produce of a Cynips. 

 The ovipositor of the Gall-fly has a toothed edge at 

 the extremit}^, which moved by the muscles of the 

 insect, act as a miniature saw, which penetrates the 

 leaves or stalks of the trees infested by the particular 

 species ; the Qgg is deposited in the hole made by the 

 little auger, together with it is supposed a drop of fluid 

 which has a peculiar irritating effect upon the vegetable 

 tissues; but why, in one case, the results should show 

 itself in the form of a flattened circular disc, in 

 another in that of a furry ball of moss, in another in 



