316 A farther Defence of 



deign to receive it favourably, I shall finish the work I have 

 in hand, wherein I show that the phenomena of our globe 

 appear invariably to accord with the theory. 

 I have the honour to be, 

 Gentlemen, 

 Your very obedient servant, 

 Paris, Feb, 11. 1831. J. Byerley. 



Art. V. A farther Defence of certain French Naturalists. 

 By William Swainson, Esq. F.R.S. F.L.S. &c. 



1 FEEL particular regret that Mr. Bennett, whose mild and 

 conciliating manners are so well known, should have been 

 induced to join in the unworthy attack that has been more 

 particularly aimed at M. Lesson ; and still more must I 

 regret, in common with some of his intimate friends, that he 

 should now proceed to defend such conduct, rather than 

 silently acknowledge it was hasty and ill-judged. I truly 

 believe him to be " anxious to give credit where credit is 

 due;" and that, in general, he is " prone to entertain feelings 

 of universal good-will." In the present instance, however, he 

 seems to deceive himself. 



The fault is either Mr. Bennett's Or mine, that I did not 

 clearly understand that M. F. Cuvier had attributed the dis- 

 covery of the Indian Tapir to Major Farquhar. I have not 

 the work, and therefore could only depend upon Mr. Ben- 

 nett's statement ; from which it certainly appeared to me 

 that such was not the case. The passage runs thus : — 

 " This latter circumstance," (meaning the discovery, as I sup- 

 posed, and desc7'iplion of the Tapir by Mr. Farquhar,) " it is 

 true, is not mentioned by M. Fred. Cuvier." It seems, 

 however, that it is ; and I am very glad of it. 



I will, then, fully admit that both MM. Desmarest and 

 Lesson " knew of all this." But are we to conclude, therefore, 

 that they desired " wilfully to mislead their readers ?" Such, 

 indeed, would be a fair inference, if, as I had supposed, they 

 had given no quotations, or if they had concealed from their 

 readers where any further information on the subject could 

 be procured. But they, as well as myself, must thank 

 Mr. Bennett for having shown the utter improbability of such 

 an intention. So far from these gentlemen wishing to leave 

 their readers in the dark ; to prevent them knowing all the 



