28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



done for 1867, a successful result so far as obtaining the 

 perfect insects. — Edward Newman. 



Galls upon Oak-leaves taken as Food by the Pheasant. — 

 I enclose some galls, as specimens from a considerable num- 

 ber taken from the crop of a pheasant which was recently 

 shot in Herefordsnire. I received them from a friend, with 

 this memorandum :— " These seeds were taken from the crop 

 of a cock pheasant, fat and well-flavoured. I can't tell what 

 they are, and so ask you." They are evidently the little 

 spherical hairy gall found often in clusters upon the back of 

 oak -leaves in coppices, resulting from the deposit of eggs by 

 one of the Cynipidae. This particular species is not so 

 abundant as the flat disks called " oak-spangles," once 

 thought to be Fungi, nor so crowded in its growth. I do not 

 remember that either has ever been noticed as taken by birds 

 for food. — Edwin Eees ; Worcester, January 15, 1868. 



[Mr. Armistead, to whom I transmitted this curious fact, 

 has sent the following note thereon. — Edward Newman.^ — 

 *' The galls taken from the crop of a pheasant are un- 

 doubtedly what are popularly called ' button galls.' They 

 are met with on the under surface of the oak-leaf, and are 

 produced by the small fly, Neurobius Reaumurii. They are 

 not unfrequent in some seasons, though not so common as 

 those pretty little rosy cushions, of fungus-like appearance, 

 also found under the oak-leaf. The latter, known as ' oak- 

 spangles,' are the production of Cynips longipennis. Both 

 these galls remain on the leaves till they fall in the autumn. 

 I have been rather glad to receive these specimens from the 

 locality stated. Being found in a pheasant's crop they must 

 have been picked up by it as grain, for food. A fact here 

 discloses itself for consideration, and that is, Do birds 

 habitually pick up these for food, and, if they do, do they 

 derive any nutriment from them ? The solution of this may 

 afford an additional answer to those we are already in 

 possession of, as to the cni bono of these and a host of other 

 similar productions, of which, though daily before many of 

 our eyes, we still know comparatively so little ; yet are they 

 not only replete with wonder, containing indubitable proofs 

 of infinite skill and workmanship, but all have undoubtedly 

 some use, did we but know it. We are already aware, 

 "thuugh we almost need to be rcmiuded of it sometimes, that 



