82 



THE KNTOMOLOGIST. 



many pheasants on the other side of the lake, which rather 

 disturbed the ideas of liberty I had so long enjoyed, never 

 meeting anyone. However, on looking up I saw notices on 

 the trees: — "Trespassers, either nutting or otherwise, will 

 be prosecuted." I soon ascertained there were gamekeepers 

 and watchers, whose acquaintance I had not yet made. 

 Preston, February, 1878. 



(T(i be continued.) 



CONSIDERATIONS ON ABNORMAL GALL-GROWTH 

 By K. A. Ormerod, F.M.S. 



l•'i'_^ 1. — (lYNirs Kfii.iAiu. 



The cause of gall-growth, that is the exact method by 

 which insect oviposition or larval presence causes this peculiar 

 development, is still so far from having been ascertained that 

 any completely abnormal form is of interest, as possibly 

 throwing light on the physiological points involved; and the 

 singular specimen figured above, showing one gall of Cynips 

 Kollari formed on the apex of another, differs so completely 

 from any known recorded state of this gall as to be worth 

 notice. This, it will be seen, has no relation to the common 

 double form of Kollari galls, in which two, starting growth 

 in juxtaposition, unite by tlieir contiguous sides, but consists 

 of two galls of different dales of growth, and completely 

 distinct (save at the origin of the super-imposed one) from 

 each other. This interesting speciu)en was found growing 

 near Maldon, by Mr. Fitch, who was good enough to forward 

 it to me for examination. 



When gathered the lower of the two galls was nuiUue, 

 hard, and brown, whilst the upper one (then as large as the 

 older one from which it originated) was still young, green, 

 and succulent ; this difference in age being still further 



