166 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



cap was in some cases so decayed that it could be detached, 

 leaving the sharp-edged cup with its cover more woolly than 

 is presently to be found (from the persistence of the fragments 

 of the removed fibrous top), embedded in the bark or just 

 projecting. This alteration may be observed taking place 

 gradually in specin)ens drying in-doors, where the dead top 

 may be seen contracting and freeing itself from the hard 

 undecayed tissue, — from the sharp edge of the cup-shaped 

 top, — of the persistent part of the gall. These changes are 

 shown in the accompanying figures, where the upper one 

 gives the top beginning to shrivel ; the lower, the top lifted 

 from the characteristic form of the gall (both magnified). 

 The exit of the perfect insect is effected through a small hole 

 pierced in the woody saucer-like cover of the cell ; and 

 judging from the number and appearance of the tenants, the 

 place of the rightful owner is often taken by parasites. — 

 E. A. Ormerod; Isleworth, Middlesex, March 20, 1877. 



[Being supplied with specimens of these galls I can confirm 

 the determination of the species. From them five specimens 

 of the gall-makers emerged from the 8th to the 12th of April; 

 these clearly exhibit the specific value of the gall, which 

 greatly resembles the single-celled variety of A. radicis, and 

 badly defined or much scattered galls of A. Sieholdi (= cor- 

 ticalis). However, the makers of the three species are 

 abundantly distinct. Radicis is ferruginous, somewhat like 

 the common C. Kollari, but smaller ; Sieholdi is bright red- 

 brown ; whilst Corticis is black-brown, almost black: both 

 the latter species are normally larger than Radicis. In 

 addition to the five Aphilothrix I have bred (14lh April to 

 1st May) twenty-four specimens of Synergus incrassaius, H., 

 its inquiline. Dr. Mayr's descriptions of these galls, with 

 two figures, will be found translated in the ' Entomologist' 

 (Entom. vii. 50).— E. A. F.] 



Practical Entomology. — Forty-five years ago, when the 

 history of "blights "was indeed dark — notwithstanding the 

 labours of those giants of Entomology, Kirby and Spence — 

 " Rusticus" wrote : — " 1 maintain that there can hardly be a 

 greater service performed to horti- and agri-culturists than 

 by pointing out to them the nature and habits of their insect 

 enemies." Since then the honoured names of Cintis, New- 

 man, Westwood and Murray stand forward amongst those 

 who have done or arc doing good service to the country, by 



