266 
MECCA OR BUSSORAH GALLS. 
perhaps, the Quercus foliis dentato-aculeatis mentioned by 
Hasselquist as growing on Mount Tabor (Trav. 9 p. 281.) 
The galls are described by Mr. Lambert as being pear- 
shaped, but some of those presented to the Society by Mr. 
Luckombe are round. Their size varies from that of a 
large hazle nut to that of a small apple. Towards the middle 
or upper part of the gall, are one or more circles of small 
protuberances, some sharp-pointed others nipple-shaped. 
Mr. Lambert thought that these were formed by the gall 
insect for air or defence, or some other purpose. In each 
of the larger galls, there is an aperture through which the 
insect escapes, and in the centre there is a small round hole 
or fridus, where it has lodged. The substance of the inte- 
rior is soft, spongy, and friable. To the taste it is somewhat 
astringent, and scarcely bitter. Mr. Lambert describes his 
being " as bitter as gall." This is the only point in which 
the Mecca galls differ from those described by Mr. Lam- 
bert. Mr. Curzon informed Mr. Lambert that these galls, 
when on the tree, are of a rich purple, and varnished over 
with a soft substance of the consistence of honey, shining 
with a most brilliant lustre in the sun, which makes the 
galls appear like a most delicious and tempting fruit. The 
dried specimens figured by Mr. Lambert are represented as 
being of rich or warm brown color, and as if varnished. This 
agrees with the samples presented by Mr. Luckombe, some 
of which present the appearance of having been varnished, 
at least in part. 
Mr. Lambert states that he ascertained the leaves on Mr. 
Curzon's specimens were those of the Quercus infectoria, 
and that the galls are identical with those of commerce. 
The latter part of this statement, Dr. Pereira said, was 
certainly incorrect, the Mecca or Bussorah galls being very 
different from the nutgalls of commerce, and in fact, being at 
the present time unsaleable, which would not be the case 
with the genuine nutgalls. From information subsequently 
obtained by Dr. Pereira, it appears that two bags of these 
