Spiders and Arachnids from the Edi7hburgh District, 181 



burgh, one under a board, 29th September 1897, and another 

 in May 1899. It occurs, though rarely, in the south of 

 England, and is also recorded from France. We know of no 

 previous record for Scotland. 



Chernes nodosus (Schrank). 



An example of this species, taken in the herbarium at the 

 Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, on 27th August 1895, 

 has been kindly handed to us by Mr J. F. Jeffrey. The 

 Rev. 0. P. Cambridge, who confirms our identification, has 

 recorded the species from a number of English localities, the 

 farthest north being Carlisle. It is usually found attached 

 by the pincers of the palpi to the leg of a fly. 



As bearing on the life-history of the False- Scorpions, Mr 

 R. Godfrey teUs us that, on the West Lothian shore, in the 

 beginning of April 1899 he found three females of 0. 

 muscorum, each with a tiny white egg-cocoon attached to the 

 under side of the abdomen, in cocoons (externally "like 

 small balls of dirt ") attached to a stone at high-water mark. 

 We observed the same species in similar cocoons on the 

 Binny Craig in March 1898. 



XVII. Oii the Genesis of Sow^e Scottish Minerals. By J. G. 

 GooDCHiLD, F.G.S., F.Z.S. 



(Read 18th January, 15th February, 15th March, and 19th April 1899.) 



The classification of minerals most commonly in use is 

 that which is based upon both their chemical composition 

 and their crystallographic form. There can be no doubt that 

 such a classification is the most natural one that can be 

 employed, and that it is the one which is best adapted to the 

 requirements of scientific men in general. Other, and more 

 artificial, systems, which better suit the requirements of 

 practical men who do not concern themselves much with 

 chemical principles, also find more or less favour. One of 

 the best of these was employed by the late Professor Nicol 

 in his " Mineralogy." Another, not less convenient, is used 



