THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 
insects within the last few days. They seem to frequent 
elm-edges with plenty of grass and undergrowth. 
{I have not collected for many years, but formerly I used 
to meet with Villica commonly, but never abundantly ; and 
the larva much more frequently than the imago.— Edward 
Newman. | 
F. G, Phillips.—Singular Gall.—I discovered to-day some 
oak-galls, the outer crust of which appears to have been eaten 
off by some insect. Never having myself noticed a similar 
appearance, and thinking it might interest you, who would 
doubtless be able to explain the cause of the irregularity, I 
beg leave to enclose you a specimen. 
[I have opened the specimen sent, and find it composed 
of silky fibres; the interior was occupied by a large cell, 
in which a large, smooth, green caterpillar was reposing, 
and appeared about changing to a chrysalis, its markings 
being very obscure, as is frequently the case before changing. 
The gall, popularly known as “ King Charles’” or the “ oak- 
apple,” has much the same appearance; the substance has a 
similar woolly character to that of the object now received ; 
but the question arises whether the caterpillar so comfortably 
installed in the interior had any part in producing the gall. 
I feel unwilling to pronounce; the multiplicity of inquilines 
found in the oak-apple is truly marvellous. I think shortly to 
publish some account of them, from a list prepared by the 
late Mr. Walker; and doubtless it may be considerably 
extended, as the observations of one entomologist are 
scarcely likely to exhaust so prolific a subject.—Ldward 
Newman. | 
S. L. Mosley.—To rear Galls.—Would you tell me of some 
good plan to rear gall-insects? When I pluck soft galls and 
keep them in tin-cans they generally come to nothing, but 
mould and rot away. 
(Will Mr. Fitch kindly reply —Edward Newman. ] 
S. L. Mosley.— Diptera.—W ould any person volunteer to 
name Dipterous insects? Also, is there such a thing as a 
complete list of Diptera published? 
[Volunteers are requested to reply. There is a list of 
British Diptera published by the British Museum.—Zdward 
Newman. | 
Henry Reeks.—Fallen Pears—I am sorry to have had 
this matter so long in hand without giving a definite reply. 
