On Weaver Bird's Pensile Nests. 



345 



level of the ocean. We therefore conclude that the eleva- 

 tion of the central parts of Scotland has not been gradual 

 but sudden ; and that the argument brought forward in 

 order to prove the great antiquity of the fossils found in 

 our ancient sea-margins rests on a conjecture which the 

 facts that have been observed distinctly disprove. 



A discussion followed the reading of this paper, in which 

 Mr Alexander Bryson, Mr David Page, Professor M'Donald, 

 Dr M'Bain. and Mr Rhind took part ; and on the motion of 

 the President, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to 

 the Bev. Mr Brodie for his interesting and suggestive com- 

 munication. 



II. Note of the Occurrence of the Death's Head Moth in Shetland, dec. 



By Adam White, Esq. 



Mr White exhibited a specimen of the Death's Head Moth, 

 sent him from Voe, in Shetland, by Mr Adie of that place. 

 This insect had apparently been abundant last year all over 

 Britain, and had occurred even as far north as Shetland. He 

 also exhibited a specimen of the Mergulus alle, the little 

 Arctic Rotche or Auk, found after a storm at Prestonpans, 

 and belonging to Mr George Hay of Prestonpans. Mr White 

 exhibited some early flowers, and also a group of beautifully - 

 executed artificial flowers from Paris, kindly lent him by a 

 perfumer in George Street. 



III. (1.) Specimens of Weaver Bird's Pensile Nests, dc, recently sent 

 from Old Calabar by the Rev. Alexander Robb, were exhibited 



by Dr John Alex. Smith. 



The nests were somewhat of the shape of a chemist's 

 large retort, the body of the retort being, however, a little 

 more bent over the neck than usual ; the specimens varied in 

 size and in their state of completeness, some being ap- 

 parently only partially finished. The largest nests measured 

 some seven inches across the body of the nest, by six or 

 eight inches in height ; the neck or passage to the nest was 

 about two feet in length, and increased from four to five 



vol. in. 2 Y 



