Gall-Beetles. 415 



concretion of the juices forming the gall. These galls were 

 very abundant during the summer of 1830. (J. R.) 



A few other instances of beetles producing galls are re- 

 corded by naturalists. Kirby and Spence have ascertained, 

 for example, that the bumps formed on the roots of kedlock 

 or charlock (Sinapis arvensis) are inhabited by the larvae of a 

 weevil (Gurculio contractus, MAESHAM; and Rhynchcenus 

 assimilis, FABR.) ; and it may be reasonably supposed that 

 either the same or similar insects cause the clubbing of the 

 roots of cabbages, and the knob-like galls on turnips, called 

 in some places the anbury. We have found them also infest- 

 ing the roots of the hollyhock (Alcea rosea). They are 

 evidently beetles of an allied genus which form the woody 

 galls sometimes met with on the leaves of the guelder-rose 

 (Viburnum), the lime-tree (Tilia Europwa), and the beech 

 (Fagus sylvatica). 



There are also some two-winged flies which produce 

 woody galls on various plants, such as the thistle-fly 

 (TepJiritis cardui, LATR.). The grubs of this pretty fly 

 produce on the leaf-stalks of thistles an oblong woody knob. 

 On the common white briony (Bryonia dioica) of our hedges 

 may be found a very pretty fly of this genus, of a yellowish- 

 brown colour, with pellucid wings, waved much like those of 

 the thistle-fly with yellowish brown. This fly lays its eggs 

 near a joint of the stem, and the grubs live upon its sub- 

 stance. The joint swells out into an oval form, furrowed in 

 several places, and the fly is subsequently disclosed. In its 

 perfect state, it feeds on the blossom of the briony. (J. R.) 

 Flies of another minute family, the gall-gnats (Cecidomyice, 

 LATR.), pass the first stage of their existence in the small 

 globular cottony galls which abound on germander speedwell 

 (Veronica chamcedrys'), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), and 

 ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea). The latter is by no means 

 uncommon, and may be readily recognised. 



Certain species of plant-lice (Aphides), whose complete 

 history would require a volume, produce excrescences upon 

 plants which may with some propriety be termed galls, or 

 semi-galls. Some of these are without any aperture, whil >t 



