1 6 British Vegetable Galls 



tallow candle (o) rubbed on the saw when used upon green 

 wood will facilitate the work and prevent "binding." A 

 walking-stick (l) with a curved handle is very useful in 

 reaching high branches. The collector, however, may dispense 

 with it, and rely upon cutting a crook bough from a hedge 

 or wood when required. One or two pocket -tins (e) for small 

 or fragile specimens are of great service ; as also is a coil 

 of stout twine. A note-book and pencil (b) are absolutely 

 necessary. Particular spots where galls have been or are to 

 be found should be entered, with dates when found, or when 

 the places should be revisited to observe developments in 

 growth, or to remove the specimens under observation. Rough 

 outlines of the places, such as will refresh the memory and 

 act as guides without loss of time, are also of great value. 



Collecting. A considerable amount of patience and leisure 

 is required for collecting galls. They are seldom seen, and 

 less seldom found, while walking quickly. Examples such as 

 Eriophyes rudis on birch-trees, and Cecidomyia cratcegi on almost 

 every wayside hedge, are among the exceptions. They are 

 too large and too conspicuous to escape observation. It is 

 often necessary to crawl on hands and knees, using the eyes 

 diligently at the same time. At all times it is best to saunter 

 along the hedge or bank, by the stream, across the field, or 

 through the wood, and by retracing your steps specimens will 

 occasionally be found which have been previously undiscernible. 

 When searching over a bush, such as a willow, it is advisable, 

 after examining the inner boughs, to walk all round it two 

 or three times, scrutinising on the first occasion the boughs 

 nearest to you, and on the next round those farthest from 

 you. Oftentimes a gall which cannot be seen from one side 

 of a bough, twig, or leaf, may be detected from the opposite 

 side of the bush. Fix the eyes on a branch, bough, or twig, 

 and look carefully up and down it before passing to another. 

 Looking at them with the sky as the background is a great 

 help in discovering abnormal swellings. 



Many kinds of galls can be easily seen by stooping, or even 

 lying down, and looking at the shrubs or bushes from beneath. 

 This is particularly applicable to the Rlwdites galls when the 

 wild rose bushes are in leaf 



A windy day is not recommended as a suitable occasion on 



