Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/75

1, 1865.]

A FRIENDLY NOTICE OF THE TOMTIT.

is now acquainted with the new oak-gall, so much like the nut-gall from which ink is prepared, as it is now met with in nearly if not in every county in England and Wales, and for aught we know has penetrated into Scotland. We still call it new, because no longer ago than 1853 these galls were confined to Devonshire, and we have traced their gradual spread from this county over a large part of our island: at first, only as great rarities, difficult to discover; but in 1862 they were so abundant around Cirencester that we had no difficulty in procuring large bunches for the use of our pupils and lectures. Guess, then, our astonishment to find the same localities the following year, 1863, so scarce as to disappoint most of the members of our class who went in search of them.

Now, as we had heretofore observed these galls to increase from year to year, until, indeed, they have become a great pest, as threatening the very existence of young oaks, we were at first not a little puzzled; but on examining more closely into the matter, we saw quantities of freshly-broken galls beneath the trees, whilst those not so much broken were pierced to the centre—just sufficient to extract the grub by which the gall is caused—and the like was observed in the few examples then found on the trees.

Having observed so much, of course we concluded that some bird had pierced the galls for the sake of the fat maggot; and as we love birds, and quite agree with Coleridge—

—Ancient Mariner.

—Yes, with this sentiment we watched for our friend, and a little patience discovered to us that pretty little bird known as the bluecap, or tomtit (Parus cæruleus), busily engaged in pecking a triangular hole in the sides of the galls and extracting the grubs, looking all the time as cheerful and happy as though he had made a new discovery, and felt himself rewarded for his ingenuity. That this was a new discovery to good "little tommy titmouse" we have no doubt; because, though this bird abounds in the locality, we had scarcely observed their attack upon the galls on any previous season.

Mr. Hewitson says of this bird—"Although he has long been outlawed, and a price set upon his guiltless head, he is of a race still sufficiently numerous to rid us of countless insects, and to heap benefits upon us in return for all the persecution that he has met with."

In the county in which we now love—Dorset—these galls are so abundant that we this autumn gathered, for experiment, no less than six bushels from our own farm, where they are so thick that bunches of from 30 to 50 are not uncommon at the tops of two-year-old twings; from one such bunch we had the pleasure of observing the plump little flies make their exit by dozens. Here some of the galls have been perforated for the maggots in the manner described; but, alas! our dexterous little tit is not common with us. We hope, however, after this, that the readers of will join with us in wishing that there were more of them, and extend their protection not only to this but to the other species of a most beautiful, interesting, harmless, nay, eminently useful genus of birds.

We append a drawing of a small bunch of these galls. Fine bunches are to be got from the hedgerows of Woking Common and other places round London. If gathered as late as September or October, the larvæ will be found in their centres; but later, the perfect fly makes its exit by a round orifice, as seen in the left-hand gall of our cut—unless, indeed, they should be matured late, and then the fly is not hatched until the following spring.

(Nereis bilicæata).—We were introduced to the pages of by a friend, who sent us a copy of the first number, requesting us not only to take it in and read it, but to contribute occasionally some of our small experiences in the circles of natural history. We are most unlearned in technical phraseology; but still, as we wander through the world with our eyes open, and have an intense and appreciative love for the beauties which the Great Giver has so bountifully laid even at our very feet, we sometimes wish all the world could enjoy them with us; and here in your unpretending columns we have found a medium through which we can direct the attention of our readers to these pleasant subjects, assuring them that ennui could never visit the mind of one constantly employed in unfolding the secrets contained in nature's charming page, which lies ever open before them, and which gives to her perusers food for sweet thought and contemplation.

Just now our own sphere of observation is necessarily circumscribed, and an aquarium receives much of our attention. Pray do not lift your brow, gentle reader, and exclaim, "That hobby has been severely