10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



fine to arrest the smallest of these animals; and as they do not 

 leave the nidus till they are a considerable size, a wire sieve of 

 from 80 to 100 wires to the inch would, I think, make sure work 

 with the smallest of them, while open enough to allow a consider- 

 able run of water to pass through with ease; and in this way it 

 might be better to go in with the old proverb, "prevention is 

 better than cure." 



The reading of this paper was followed by an interesting dis- 

 cussion, in which Mr John Young, Mr James Eamsay, and several 

 other members took part ; and at its close a cordial vote of thanks 

 was tendered to Mr Robertson, for the care and painstaking with 

 which he had conducted his researches. 



II. — 0}i the present distribution of the CapercaiUie in Scotland. 



By Mr Egbert Gray. 



Various localities were enumerated in which this " chieftain of 

 the grouse tribe " had of late years become established in Scottish 

 woods and forests, Perthshire and Forfarshire being looked upon as 

 its principal strongholds. Stragglers, however, had been recently 

 met with as far south as Galloway and Dumfriesshire, and it had 

 occurred also at Auchengray moor, near Airdrie. These birds 

 were probably wanderers from the woods of Sanquhar, where this 

 species is known to have been introduced from the island of Arran 

 a few years ago. 



The Librarian announced, as a donation to the Library, Dr T. 

 Spencer Cobbold's work on Entozoa — An Introduction to the 

 study of Helminthology, in two volumes, 18G4, and Supplement, 

 18G9, from Mr James Stewart. 



January 25th, 1870. 



Professor John Young, M.D., F.G.S., President, in the chair. 

 Mr James Beaumont was elected a resident member. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Mr Eobert Gray exhibited a specimen of the Shore Lark (Alaiida 

 alpestris), which was shot near St. Andrews, on the first of the 

 present month, and forwarded by E. J. AYardlaw Eamsay, Jun.,Esq., 

 Lasswade. This species has liitheito been regarded as a very rare 



