HINTS ON COLLECTING AND MOUNTING OAK GALLS. 43 
Mounting galls and the imagines which emerge from 
them may be accomplished in various ways. The par- 
ticular method of arrangement in the cabinet or wall- 
case may be left to the collector to adopt which ever 
is most suitable to the conveniences at command. One 
thing is most essential: the galls must be allowed to 
dry thoroughly before placing them in their final 
positions. 
- The following suggestions may prove useful to 
the collector who has not decided upon any plan of 
arrangement : 
A small label should be affixed to each specimen, 
or cluster of specimens, bearing (7) the species of oak, 
(b) the cause of gall, (c) locality where found, (d) date 
of find, (e) a number corresponding with the same in 
note-book or catalogue. 
Imagines of average size may be fixed on a small 
piece ot white card, or put in a small glass phial, which 
has upon it a number corresponding with that on the 
gall-label, and date of emergence. Parasites and 
inquilines should be put in a separate phial, labelled 
, accordingly, and placed by the side of that containing 
the Cynips. 
Very small imagines which require a lens or micro- 
scope for their examination may be mounted in the 
following manner. Cut a piece of card of about 
double the thickness of a post-card, the same size as a 
microscope slip, viz. 75 mm. by 25 mm. and with a 
steel punch of 12 mm. diameter make a hole in the card. 
Remove the slight blur caused by the punch with a 
sharp knife, or rub it down with the thumb-nail. 
This part of the card is then seccotined, and a micro- 
scope cover-slip placed on and allowed to dry. When 
dry, affix a name label on the card, fill in particulars 
such as have already been suggested, and then place 
the creatures in the cavity of the card. Seccotine the 
margin of the cavity and close it in with another 
glass slip. Put it aside to dry with a small weight on 
it to keep it flat and firm. 
