100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST 
and apparently senseless. The males become winged, possessing 
like the Diptera, one pair. The mouth in the perfect state is 
obsolete. 
The Cochineal insect, popular on account of its value a3 a dye, 
is a member of this family. 
In Australia, some species form large excrescences on the 
branches and leaves of trees and shrubs, and frequently exist in 
such numbers as to greatly alter the shape of the leaves and branches, 
and sadly disfigure, and eventually kill the tree by robbing it of the 
sap. 
I have noticed a considerable variety of Galls in different parts 
of Victoria, but in this paper will only give short notes on two of 
the more common and widely extended species. 
The only literature upon our Gall-making Coecide that I know 
of, is a brief paper by H. L. Schrader, published in the Trans. of 
the Entomological Society of New South Wales, for 1862. 
He has considered it necessary, on account of their forming Galls, 
and of their difference in structure and habits to any previously 
known in other parts of the world, to divide them into three genera. 
1. Brachyscelis. Where the females have six legs complete, 
but short, and unfit for use. 
2. Opisthoscelis. Where they have only two long posterior legs. 
8. Ascelis. Where there are no vestiges of legs. 
The exerescences of the genus Brachyscelis, I have found 
commonly upon different species of young Eucalypts. I shall 
confine my remarks to only one species. 
The male Galls are situated on the leaves, generally along the 
mid rib, where they are often found thickly together. In shape they 
are similar to a trumpet, having the widest part facing outwards, and 
showing a hollow down the centre. In length, they are about 15 
lines. The male insects are minute in size, possessing a pair of 
wings, and are furnished with two long anal sete. They live but a 
short period like the Ephemeride or May flies, to which they are 
most analogous. 
The female Galls are found on the branches of the same trees as 
the males, but much larger. They are subject to considerable 
modifications in size as well as shape; generally the ultimate 
form is about 14 imches in length, and 4 inch through at the 
thickest part. At the apex is a small hole, and splitting the Gall 
open reveals the female insect. On first appearance it might be 
mistaken for a pupa of a moth, as its shape is similar. The 
body is clothed with a white, downy secretion, and is divided into 
eight segments, terminating in two short hard anal sete. The legs 
are very short, and useless as regards locomotion; the posterior are 
the most perfect, the anterior the least so, they are hardly discernible 
by the naked eye. The mouth is placed between the first and 
