On the Migration of Birds of East 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 Robb, 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 tln^ insect, at a casual meeting, previous 
to the reading and publication of both papers. There was 
no other source through which this information could liave 
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 known 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 w^ere 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 exliibited drawings of two remarkably 
VOL. III. 3 A 
