HINTS ON COLLECTING AND MOUNTING OAK GALLS. 43 



Mounting galls and the imagines which emerge from 

 them may be accomplished in various ways. The par- 

 ticular method of arrangement in the cabinet or wall- 

 case may be left to the collector to adopt which ever 

 is most suitable to the conveniences at command. One 

 thing is most essential : the galls must be allowed to 

 dry thoroughly before placing them in their final 

 positions. 



The following suggestions may prove useful to 

 the collector who has not decided upon any plan of 

 arrangement : 



A small label should be affixed to each specimen, 

 or cluster of specimens, bearing (a) the species of oak, 

 {b) the cause of gall, {c) locality where found, (cl) date 

 of find, (e) a number corresponding with the same in 

 note-book or catalogue. 



Imagines of average size may be fixed on a small 

 piece of white card, or put in a small glass phial, which 

 has upon it a number corresponding with that on the 

 gall-label, and date of emergence. Parasites and 

 inquilines should be put in a separate phial, labelled 

 accordingly, and placed by the side of that containing 

 the Cynips. 



Very small imagines which require a lens oi' micro- 

 scope for their examination may be mounted in the 

 following manner. Cut a piece of card of about 

 double the thickness of a post-card, the same size as a 

 microscope slip, viz. 75 mm. by 25 mm. and with a 

 steel punch of 12 mm. diameter make a hole in the card. 

 Remove the slight blur caused by the punch with a 

 sharp knife, or rub it down with the thuml)-nail. 

 This part of the card is then seccotined, and a micro- 

 scope cover-slip placed on and allowed to dry. When 

 dry, affix a name label on the card, fill in particulars 

 such as have already been suggested, and then place 

 the creatures in the cavity of the card. Seccotine the 

 margin of the cavity and close it in with another 

 glass slip. Put it aside to dry with a small weight on 

 it to keep it flat and firm. 



