The Zoologist— Ma v, 18<58. 1197 



the reproduction in the unisexual (?) Cynipida?, and on the viviparous 

 larvae of Cecidomyia. Seeing, then, that scarcely any one paid atten- 

 tion to the galls of my native land, 1 resolved to do the little in my 

 power to cultivate their knowledge again. I have ever since been 

 accumulating materials, and shall continue to do so. 



Mr. Armistead's lamented demise having, as it were, severed the 

 intellectual thread connecting the observations of different individuals 

 in various parts of this country and abroad, the present seems to me 

 to be the proper moment for bringing forward a few notes and queries 

 on British and foreign galls and other excrescences, which have 

 accumulated in the course of my reading and rambles for the last few 

 years. It will be seen in the sequel that Mr. Armistead's numerous 

 communications have afforded to me some most important information : 

 this stands quoted throughout, identified by his initials and the 

 dates of his letters. The kind contributions of other gentlemen I have 

 also everywhere acknowledged, and thank them here publicly for their 

 various good offices. 



In a compilation of fragments like the following the absence of any 

 order, either entomological or botanical, may be excused, my purpose 

 being simply to interest out-door observers and to invite their co- 

 operation in the investigation of what we may in this instance truly 

 call " knotty points." 



Convinced as I am that our understanding ofthe present productions 

 of our globe will be largely benefited by knowing what the past has 

 produced, I begin, by way of a kind of desultory introduction, with 

 the little as yet ascertained concerning — 



Fossil Galls. — The late Senator Carl von Heyden, in Frankfort-on- 

 the-Maine, was, I believe, the first to describe and figure fossil galls 

 on Salix abbreviata, Goppert, and as their position on the leaf, their 

 size and shape were unlike those of a Cynips or a Cecidomyia, and as 

 recent Acaridae are known to produce similar excrescences on limes 

 and willows, he came to the conclusion that these galls were caused 

 by an Acarus, which he named Phytoptus antiquus.* The same 

 author subsequently described and gave a figure of the galls of Ceci- 

 domyia (?) dubia.f Both these galls are from the " Braunkohle " of 

 the Nether Rhine (Salzhausen). The next explorer in the field was 

 ^Professor Oswald Heer, of Zueric, who received from Oeningen about 



* ' Achter Bericht der Oberhess, G. f. Nat. & Heilkunde,' 1860, p. 63, and Von 

 Meyer's ' Palaeontographica,' 1. 10, p. 64, tab. 1. 



t Von Meyer's ' Palseoutogiaphica,' t. 10, p. 80, tab. 1. 



