NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 



165 



creatures, by giving an aspect of ferocity, which may deter 

 their foes from attacking them ; a similar purpose being 

 attributed to the eye-like spots of the larvae of Porcellus and 

 Elpenor. Doubtless amongst the contributors to the ' Ento- 

 mologist' many can afford some useful information. Again, 

 will someone say what are the protuberances of the cater- 

 pillars of the Cuspidatcef — J. Anderson, jun. ; Chichester. 



Oak-galls: Aphilothrix corticis, L. — These galls are 

 of some interest from their presence not 

 having been yet recorded in Britain. About 

 the beginning of March I found specimens 

 on an oak in the neighbourhood of Islevvorth 

 agreeing so perfectly with the description 

 given by Dr. Mayr in his ' Eichengallen' 

 (p. 7) as to leave no doubt of their identity. 

 The galls were placed in young bark, press- 

 ing forward beneath old rind which had 

 apparently been displaced by lightning. 

 They were about a quarter of an inch in 

 length, cup-shaped at the top and obconical, ^o 

 but usually a good deal flattened longitu- 

 dinally, and irregular in form from being 

 much pressed together. The cup-shaped 

 mouth was sharp at the edge, and closed by a convex woody 

 cover, woolly on the surface, with a furrow running round 

 the circumference a little below the edge of the cap, this 

 furrow provided with a row of deep punctures ; the whole 

 gall-head bearing much resemblance to the top of a Chinese 

 tea-cup, with its little saucer-lid placed inside it. Besides 

 the specimens of galls at this stage of full development and 

 containing the full-grown larva, there were others showing it 

 in every stage from its first appearance through the bark ; 

 whilst from the existence of the semi-globose head (which 

 subsequently decays and withers off, exposing the charac- 

 teristic cup-shaped and lidded summit of the developed gall) 

 it is scarcely distinguishable from the single-celled form of 

 Apltilothrix radicis. These specimens when first coming 

 through the bark were shiny, rounded above, and greenish ; 

 but presently the green colour of the part visible changed to 

 brown for about a third down the gall ; this brown part gradually 

 dying, altering in the process into various contorted shapes; 

 and at the time when observed, about the 3rd of March, this 



A. COKTICIS. 



