HINTS ON COLLECTING AND MOUNTING OAK GALLS. 41 



be out of reach. It is especially useful for cutting off 

 galled catkins, and Teran terminalis. 



A walking stick is a useful, although not necessary, 

 part of the collector's equipment; because with knife 

 or saw a sapling can be obtained which when ten or 

 fifteen feet high is of greater value than the ordinary 

 companion, 



A small tenon saw will facilitate the acquisition of 

 specimens of DirlicViia (piercina when on large oak 

 stems. A little tallow in a tin box will be wanted, to 

 smear on the saw and prevent binding when cutting- 

 thick green wood. 



Field glasses are useful in detecting small galls 

 high up in large trees. Galls of Andricits cirratns, A. 

 midus, and A. jjHosiis are not easy to see at a distance 

 of eight or ten feet above one's head. An alternative 

 is to prune catkin-l)earing twigs until galls are 

 obtained ; but that method is destructive and not 

 recommended. 



The collector should always have a strong knife. 

 There are many ways in which it is useful. 



A small fern-trowel (Fig. 3) with narrow blade is 

 wanted when the root galls are sought; it is also 

 helpful when stripping off a piece of bark with 

 Spathegasier Taschenherr/i or Trigonasins crustalis 

 upon it. 



A large sheet of newspaper or brown paper is of 

 great value. Without it galls are often lost. A few 

 80 cm. lengths of brown string should not be for- 

 gotten. 



A note-book and pencil are absolutely necessary. 

 Particular spots Avhere galls have been, or are to be 

 found, should be entered, with dates when found, or 

 when the places should be re-visited to ol)serve develop- 

 ments in growth, or to remove the specimens under 

 observation. Rough outlines of the places, such as 

 will refresh the memory and act as g-nides without 

 loss of time, are also desirable. 



The collector Avill frequently find galls that are not 



