273 



DESCRIPTION OF S.A. SPECIES OF BRACHYSCELID 



GALLS. 



Brachyscelis munita, Schrader. 



(Trans. Ent. Soc. N.S.W., 1862 ; vol. I. 5 ; plate ii., 

 fig. A, h, I, 0, s.). (Plate iii., tig. 1). 



The typical form as described by Schrader is shown in outline 

 by ^1., tig. 1, plate iii., which is an approximate copy of the 

 original tigure, and has not been observed by me in South Aus- 

 tralia. The shape usually seen is delineated by fig. 1, B. The 

 four prolongations, continued along the gall as more or less crest- 

 like ridges attain sometimes several inches in length, but are 

 always much recurved or contracted irregularly. When occurring 

 in crowded clusters, as is sometimes the case, the galls become 

 mostly very much deformed. Some of the ridges or all of them 

 become obsolete, and the appendages less in number and much 

 reduced in length and thickness (in my opinion they probably 

 represent midribs of four leaves composing the gall), yet the 

 typical form can still be recognised. The variety shown at C 

 (pi. iii.) appears to be rare, and only apjDearing solitarily. It 

 might be distinguished as var. foliosa, and is only met with on 

 very young shoots with broad leaves indicative of immature age. 

 A form very much reduced in size occurs by no means rarely on 

 certain " Mallee " Eucalypts [D, pi. iii.; fig. 2//., pi. iv.), which 

 I propose to distinguish as var. reducta until its relationship be 

 more closely studied. 



The male galls are narrowly tubular, small, and crowded 

 together in subglobular clusters of very numerous individuals at 

 the ends of small branchlets. 



Habitat . — Distributed throughout Southern and Eastern 

 Australia. 



Brachyscelis regularis, 5|jec. 7iov. (PI. iii., fig. 3, 3«.) 



Female gall. Solitary, erect, regular, conical both ends ; 

 apex truncate, slightly narrower than the base, the stalk of which 

 is soniewhat elongated and generally attenuated as w^ell as the 

 apex. Aperture very small, circular, level with the narrow rim, 

 which is slightly and very shortly annulated. Exterior nearly 

 smooth, whitish or brownish, slightly striated and roughened by 

 low irregular, subconical protuberances (remains of male galls ?), 

 and transverse ridgelets. Internal cavity comparatively narrow, 

 tapering almost equally towards either end. Insect not observed. 

 Male galls unknown. 



Length of gall, 56 mm. ; diameter (max.), 21 nnn. 



Habitat. — Murray Bridge, Lyndoch, Occ. On EucalyjHus 

 rostrata, Schlecht ; rather rare. 



