HYMENOPTERA. 
123 
Spiculiferov, and the Tube-bearers, Tubuliferos; the 
former consists of Gall-flies ( Cynipidce ), the Ichneumons 
(Iclmeumonidce ), the Evaniida ?, Chalcididce , and the 
Proctotrupidce; the latter the Ruby-tails ( Chrysididce ). 
The Dart-bearers are parasitic on living insects, the 
Tube-bearers are supposed to be parasitic in the nests 
of other Hymenopterous insects. The Gall-flies are 
the authors of the oak-apples, so much sought after by 
school-boys on the 29th 
of May (King Charles II. 
day); the currant-like 
balls on the long catkins 
of the oak, and the round, 
hard, smooth, marble-like 
galls, not known in this 
country some thirty years 
ago, but exceedingly com- a. Gaii Nuts. 
b. Gall Nuts of Cynips Quercus folii. 
mon now on young oak' 
trees. The insect which produces this last named gall is 
the Cynips Ugnicola , so called from the hard woody 
structure of the gall; by some entomologists it is called 
the Cynips Kollari , after a German naturalist. I first 
noticed this gall in Devonshire about the year 1858 ; 
I had not noticed it in Warwickshire .where I was then 
living, nor did I see it in Shropshire till about the year 
1862. Now it is common in every field and hedgerow. 
In the gall‘of the Cynips Kollari , generally within the 
very centre will be found at the proper season of the 
year a single white grub, snugly hid in its dark recess ; 
on assuming its perfect stage, the little insect gnaws its 
way out into the world of light. The small round 
holes that may be seen on the surface of the gall, 
