24, BRITISH OAK GALLS. 
122 Neuroterus nwmismatis 21 N. fumipennis = 146 
galls. 
On another leaf, 14°5 x 7°5 cm.: 
5 Neuroterus ostreus  . 12 Dryophanta divisa. 
37 . numismatis 123 N. fumipennis = 177 
galls. 
It is very remarkable that the abundance of the 
spangle galls in particular upon a leaf does not affect 
its normal size, shape, outline, or thickness. There is 
therefore no detriment to the foliage on account of the 
presence of hundreds of thousands of these galls on a 
bush or tree, nor is the growth and development of 
either hindered. 
The galls on catkins undoubtedly prevent the growth 
of thousands of acorns, but that is of small consequence 
since thousands more are available for seedling oaks, or 
for pig food and small rodents. The value of the tree 
is in its timber and its bark. 
In connection with the numerical abundance of galls, 
two correspondents have kindly communicated the 
following: “It may be of interest to you to know that 
several oaks (pedunculata) which I specially noted in 
May as having an abnormal number of red-currant 
galls upon the catkins, are at the present time (August) 
quite free from galls of any kind, but some little 
‘shrubby’ oaks in their immediate vicinity have their 
leaves covered with N. lenticularis. In other places im 
the same wood the Turkey oak and our common oak 
are growing side by side, so close that the branches 
intermingle; the Turkey oak is quite free from galls, 
the others have numismatis and lenticularis in large 
numbers, chiefly on leaves at the apex of the branches ” 
(E. W. Swanton, Haslemere, Surrey, in lit., September 
4th, 1904). 
This latter peculiarity has been noticed on several 
occasions by the author. So also has the strange fact 
that enormous numbers of galls of several species will 
be found in one part of a wood and nowhere else in the 
same wood. 
