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 Khind took part ; and on the motion of 
the President, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to 
the Eev. Mr Brodie for his interesting and suggestive com- 
munication. 
II. I^ote of the Occurrence of the Death's Head Moth in Shetland, &c. 
By Adam White, Esq. 
Mr White exhibited a specimen of the Death's Head Moth, 
sent him from Yoe, 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 Eotche 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, dtc, 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 
rge retort, the body of the retort being, however, a little 
ore bent over the neck than usual ; the specimens varied in 
ize and in their state of completeness, some being ap- 
arently only partially finished. The largest nests measured 
me seven inches across the body of the nest, by six or 
ight inches in height ; the neck or passage to the nest was 
bout two feet in length, and increased from four to five 
VOL. III. 2 Y 
