26 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



readers an opportunity of comparing with the variety. It will 

 be observed that the oblique cream-coloured stripes which 

 adorn the normal insect are in this aberration partially or 

 altogether wanting. In the normal insect six such stripes are 

 present, five of these reaching the costa, and the sixth being 

 situated at the base of the wing, immediately in contact with 

 the body. I will try to make my meaning intelligible. 



To begin with calling the basal stripe No. 1, it will be 

 observed that it is slender and pointed, and intermediate 

 between the costal and inner margins; in some examples it is 

 continued almost as a thread-like line towards the anal angle. 

 No. 2 is on the costa only, is parallel to No. 1, and much 

 resembles it, but is rather less. No. 3 is variable : it gene- 

 rally extends obliquely from the costa to the anal angle ; at 

 the costa it is broad, but gradually diminishes to a point before 

 reaching the angle; in the variety it generally ceases almost 

 immediately below the costa, but reappears as a slender line 

 near the anal angle. No. 4 is costal only, and smaller; a 

 mere spot, almost square. No. 5, in the normal insect, 

 extends from the costa obliquely downwards, until it meets 

 No. 6, also oblique, but tending in another direction ; they 

 unite in forming a letter V; in the variety this ceases imme- 

 diately below the costa : the hind wings present but small 

 difference in the distribution of their markings; their colour 

 is scarlet, with black spots. 



After taking all this trouble in trying to describe the 

 differences that exist between the normal insect and the 

 aberration, I feel that I have not expressed those differences 

 nearly so well as Mr. Willis has done in the drawing, which 

 Mr. Kirchner has engraved with such consummate skill. 



Edward Newman. 



Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G, L. Mayr's 

 'Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen ' by E. A. FiTCHjEsq. 



(Coutiuuecl from vol. viii. p. 2'Jl.) 



36. Synophus politus, Hart. — This more or less spherical 

 gall grows out of the axillar and terminal buds of the Turkey 

 oak, and varies much in shape. I shall first of all describe 

 the one that is commonest and most regularly developed. 



