150 London Insects. 



St. Hubert's Stag, which carried a cross between its 

 horns, was miraculous. But what is the explanation 

 of hundreds of Cockchafer Grubs being found spiked 

 always between the eyes and never in any other 

 part of the body, by a living sword ? Does the seed 

 of the fungus stick to the head and root from the 

 outside, or does the Grub try to swallow it and fail ? 



If Bacon could have seen a specimen of the fungus 

 blade shooting from the forehead of the Grub he 

 might have left us another chapter of " The Wisdom 

 of the Ancients " on Minerva springing into life from 

 the head of Jove. 



Gall Flies which are vegetables what Ichneumon 

 flies are to insect life, and much more attractive 

 belong to the same order. They are of many 

 sorts, and lay their eggs on leaves and young 

 shoots of trees, &c., which burst out at the touch 

 into excrescences of many different kinds, some 

 hard and round like woody marbles, others soft and 

 spongy, others brilliantly-coloured hairy tufts, which 

 become the home of the grub when hatched, stored 

 with all the provisions it will require. 



The egg-laying wand of every Gall Fly has the 

 magical power of Aladdin's wonderful lamp, and can 

 make a furnished palace spring into existence just 

 when it is wanted. 



London vegetation does not seem to be generally 

 attractive to them ; but, though they are not by any 

 means so conspicuous in their varieties as in almost 

 any field in the country, Galls of many kinds are to 

 be found in our Parks and Gardens. 



It was at one time commonly held that great 

 events might be foretold with certainty by the 

 initiated by cutting open galls and seeing what sort 

 of creatures they contained. 



