346 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society, 
inches in diameter across the neck, next the nest, to five or 
six inches across its trumpet-like mouth or further extremity. 
Mr Eobb informed Dr Smith that these nests were generally 
hung from the branches of palm trees, the leaflets of the palm 
being worked round the neck of the nest, and frequently 
over water, so that the bird could safely enter from below 
the pendant opening of its long passage, and creep up to 
the nest above, and no monkey or snake could manage to 
get at the nest. Dr Smith believed the bird to belong to the 
family of the Weaver birds, but the species he was not yet 
cognisant of. He had, however, written to Mr Eobb to 
send home, if possible, specimens of the builder of the nest, 
so that there might be no doubt of the species. The nest 
was beautifully and strongly made of the interlaced stalks 
apparently of grasses. 
Professor Balfour, in reply to inquiries by Dr Smith, 
stated that the plants forming the nest belong to the mono- 
cotyledonous class, and were probably glumiferous ; the 
venation and stomata indicate this. 
Mr Hewan informed Dr Smith of the existence of another 
curious Calabar pensile nest, which was frequently built in the 
palm leaves ; the bird apparently stripped the leaflets of the 
palm from their midribs, and plaited them into the nest, the 
naked midribs supporting the finished fabric. Dr Smith 
hoped at some future time to be able also to exhibit to the 
Society specimens of this very curious nest. 
(2.) A Specimen of the Lanius excubitor (i^g Great Grey Shrike), shot 
near Roslin, was exhibited by Dr John Alex. Smith. 
Dr Smith was indebted to J. W. W. Wedderburn, Esq. of" 
Eosebank, Eoslin, for being able to exhibit the fine adult male 
specimen of the Lanius excubitor, the Great Grey Shrike, 
now on the table It was shot by him in the end of Decem- 
ber last, and he informed Dr Smith that he had also seen 
another specimen of the bird in the same neighbourhood a 
few days after ; not having his gun, this bird escaped. The 
specimen exhibited, Dr Smith said, had in its stomach a 
gold-crested wren, wliich was entire, with the exception of the 
head being crushed — the usual manner in which the shrike 
