76 BRITISH GALLS 



maggot changes to a reddish chrysalis, from which the gout- 

 fly appears about harvest-time."* 



The frit-fly, Oscinis frit Linn, (vastator Curtis), does much 

 mischief to cereals and- pasture grasses in Europe and 

 America. The larva eats into the heart of young plants ; 

 the new shoots become swollen and distorted, the malforma- 

 tions resembling those induced by eelworms. The gall-gnats 

 of Willows and Osiers above alluded to not infrequently 

 occur to an injurious extent. The Board of Agriculture has 

 issued a leaflet (No. 165) concerning them. 



Though Loudon, Selby, and others, held the opinion that 

 the Yew seldom suffers from the attacks of insects, there are 

 numerous recorded instances of damage resulting from the 

 attacks of Oligotrophus taxi, — e.g., Dr. Lowe observed trees 

 at Dinder, near Wells, that were much infested " on their 

 upper branches, which were stunted and unhealthy-looking, 

 while the lower branches, which were almost free from gatls, 

 were well grown and vigorous." These galls are more abun- 

 dant in the southern counties than in the northerUj and are 

 said to be unknown in Scotland. 



* Eleanor Ormerod, " Manual of Injurious Insects " (second 

 edition), p. 76. 



