DESCRIPTIONS OF OAK-GALLS. 251 



pedunculata, on July 27th, 1873, and noted it as affecting 

 both sides of the leaf; flat on tlie upper surface, with a blunt 

 central point and ribs radiating from the centre, but only 

 showing near the margin ; the gall forming a shiny circular 

 space on the upper side of the leaf, and beneath it the shape 

 is similar, round and somewhat convex. During the following 

 days, up to July 30th, I found a good many specimens; but 

 though a very few were still green, the galls for the most part 

 seemed past their maturity : some were dry, empty, and 

 perforated ; and many had the insect contents dead and 

 distorted. On August 1st there were no live Ci/nipidce in any 

 of them, and from the slate of the galls it appeared as if the 

 gall-maker made its escape before the altered cuticle of the 

 leaf died completely. I noted a brilliant green parasite with 

 black striped abdomen ; and in one light-brown gall were 

 two of what I conjecture to be inquilines, but had no means 

 then of determining." Dr. Traill has described it thus : — 

 "On Saturday, July 5th (1873), I found galls of this species 

 common in oak leaves, at Banchory, where I had seen a few 

 about a month before in their earlier stages, without recog- 

 nising them as galls. This species also is, I believe, new to 

 Britain. They are sunk in the substance of the leaf entirely 

 at first, but as they approach maturity they project both 

 above and below, forming a very low double cone, and 

 enclosing a cavity of some size, the walls being very thin. 

 When mature they are readily seen, being whitish, while the 

 leaf is green ; but till maturity they are green like the leaf. 

 They are then very difficult to find, the readiest eye-mark 

 being the radii which pass from a small knob in the centre 

 to the circumference. On the upper surface this arrangement 

 is very regular and distinct, but it is less regular below, and 

 there is no central knob. Both surfaces are naked. The form 

 is oval, about one-eighth by one-twelfth. Almost all that 1 

 found were empty, but a few contained inquilines." (Scot. 

 Nat. ii. 171). This gall is probably widely distributed, 

 though unnoticed, in Britain. 1 have found it at Maldon 

 sparingly, but never bred an inmate. — E. A. Fitch. 



S. Bradbury. — The cottony galls upon the oak are pro- 

 duced by Andricus romuli^ one of the (Jt/tHpida. — Kd. 



