242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



dwells the Cecidomyia which is the maker of the gall — four 

 iMquilinous Cecidorayiae — an inquilinous sawfly — five distinct 

 species of Micro-Lepidoptera, some feeding on the external 

 leaves of the gall, and some burrowing into the heart of the 

 cabbage, but scarcely ever penetrating into the central cell 

 so as to destroy the larva that provides them with food and 

 lodging — two or three Coleoptera — a Psocus (Pseudo-Neu- 

 roptera) — a Heteropterous insect found abundantly in several 

 other willow-galls — an Aphis, which is also found on the 

 leaves of the willow, but particularly affects this gall — and, 

 preying on the Aphides, the larva of a Chrysopa (Neuroptera) 

 and the larva of a Syrphide (Diplera) — besides four or five 

 species of Chalcididge, one Braconide Ichneumon, and one 

 Tachinidae, which prey upon the Cecidomyiae and the Micro- 

 Lepidoptera ; making altogether about two dozen distinct 

 species, and representing every one of the eight Orders, if, 

 with Sieboldt, Erichson and Hagen, we refer Pseudo-Neu- 

 roptera to Orlhoptera." 



Referring to the alleged discovery of Wagner, that the 

 larvae of Cecidomyia breed young ones, — that a second 

 generation of larvae is developed within the bodies of the 

 first, — the author expresses his firm belief that the young 

 larvae which crept out of the bodies of Cecidomyia larvae 

 were nothing but larvae of Chalcididae or Proctotrupidae, 

 several species of which he knew from experience to breed 

 inside the bodies of larvae of willow Cecidomyiae. As to 

 Wagner's statement that the same newly-born larvae went 

 through the same process a second time, he believes it to be 

 a pure and sin) pie delusion. 



[It became my duty to expose this "simple delusion" at 

 p. 56 of the 'Entomologist;' and Professor Westwood, in 

 alluding to this exposure, condemns it, at p. 9256 of the 

 * Zoologist,' as " dogmatic." The term may be a correct one, 

 but the course taken by me on that occasion is also correct : 

 no Editor who sees an assertion made contrary to our expe- 

 rience, and totally unsupported by proof, ought to pass 

 it over in silence : and a Professor of any Piiysical Science, 

 in a leading University, should be very cautious in giving a 

 "simple delusion" even the semblance of support. — Edward 

 Newman. \ 



£. NEWMAM, PBINIES, D£VONgBIIl£ SX£££T, £ISHOFSGAX£. 



