66 FOREIGN" GALLS. 



underwood near Hornsey. These singular Galls, resembling 

 in form the buds of a flower, (those especially of the Mezereon) 

 sprung in thick clusters from the brown rooty stems just above 

 and below the surface of the ground ; and when first gathered 

 were of a delicate wax-like white, shade^ and striated by the 

 most brilliant rose colour. A single grub was ensconced in 

 the centre of each bud-like Gall ; but, owing to the piece of 

 root having been carelessly mislaid, we lost the opportunity 

 of seeing the perfect fly. 



Several other of these curious productions of animal origin, 

 but vegetable growth, have been found upon the English oak ; 

 but it is to the oaks of other lands, those chiefly of Asia 

 Minor, that we are indebted for the Galls, which, e^>orted 

 from Smyrna and Aleppo, make a prime ingredient of our 

 ink. Such as may be curious to look upon one of those 

 fairy-like Oriental flies, whose tiny wands have assisted to 

 feed their pens, perhaps also their purses and their pride, have 

 only to buy and bruise some half dozen of the best blue galls, 

 in one or more of which the perfect insect is almost certain to 

 be found imbedded. 



Various are the other trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants 

 which produce each their peculiar galls. As the towering oak 

 is not too lofty, neither is the -trailing ground-ivy* too lowly, 

 to escape the impost levied on its juices for the protection and 

 support of Gall-fly infancy, which is also cradled on the 



* The gall of the ground ivy is produced by a Gall-gnat. 



