On the Migration of Birds of Fast Lothian. 361 



paper on the subject in the "Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History." Until the appearance of Dr Smith's " Notes" Dr 

 Fraser was ignorant of any other publication, and he is now 

 informed that a short paper on the Esere insect, written by 

 the Eev. Alexander Eobb, was read before the Botanical 

 Society, in Dr Hewan's name, on the 14th of April, and 

 published in page 181 of the volume of Transactions issued 

 in November 1864. As the author's paper was in the hands 

 of the editors of the " Annals" about the middle of April, and 

 was published in May 1864, it is obvious that it could not 

 have been influenced by Mr Eobb's communication. The 

 Kev. John Baillie did not refer to Mr Eobb's observations, 

 and yet Dr Fraser informed him of his intention to publish 

 anything which he might find of interest. Nor did Dr 

 Hewan mention the existence of these notes when spoken 

 to on the subject of the insect, at a casual meeting, previous 

 to the reading and publication of both papers. There was 

 no other source through which this information could have 

 been obtained. Dr Fraser has never claimed to be the dis- 

 coverer of this moth. It would have been absurd for him to 

 do so, as he mentions in his paper that he received beans and 

 insects, and the principal facts of the connection between 

 the two, from the Eev. John Baillie. He would have ac- 

 knowledged the existence of the Eev. Alexander Eobb's 

 notes with the greatest pleasure had he kno^n of them, 

 but a previous acquaintance with these notes would not in 

 any other manner have influenced his communication. 



IV. (1.) Notice of the Nests of two Exotic Spiders. By Adam White, 

 Esq., late of British Museum. 



Mr Adam White made some remarks on the cocoons of 

 spiders, on their various forms, and on the different circum- 

 stances in which they were left or closely kept by the 

 mother-spider. He alluded to the silken thread from certain 

 spiders' cocoons being the finest line that could be procured 

 for micrometrical purposes by the optician, astronomer, and 

 microscopist. He exhibited drawings of two remarkably 



vol. nr. 3 A 



