An Introduction to Zoology. 19 



ously existing, but then extinct. They must, in short, explain, ' And God said, let 

 there be light,' by something like the phrase, ^ Again, thou sayest, come again.' 

 Now this seems harsh and forced ; yet if (for argument's sake) it were admitted that 

 this solution is the true one, we should in that case hardly expect that a revelation, 

 having the history of God's dealings with men for its great subject, should be intro- 

 duced with a formal notice of a supposed earlier world ;—amatter interesting indeed, 

 as a question of science, but quite unconnected with moral or spiritual discipline. 

 But, without such a. preface, the difficulty we have mentioned must have occurred, 

 since it would arise, supposing the interpretation correct, not from the contradiction, 

 but only from the silence of the text. 



3. There is the interpretation of Mr. Faber and others, who consider the six days 

 as denoting extended periods. Now, to identify the periods before the mention of 

 the sun with periods measured by that luminary, is as much a stretch of private 

 interpretation as even the extended view. Mr. Faber strongly urges this theory, as 

 bringing to light a very striking general coincidence between the phenomena of the 

 succession of organic remains (the oldest rocks having vegetables and testacca, the 

 next larger marine animals and some winged animals, and the latest exhibiting the 

 first traces of terrestrial quadrupeds, the whole antecedent to the creation of man), 

 and the Mosaic record, as to the order of their formation. This general coincidence 

 has, however, been by some writers very injudiciously pushed into details, as if the 

 succinct Mosaic narrative were adapted to convey a full account of the whole series 

 of natural phenomena. From such injudicious attempts (to use Bacon's trite quota- 

 tion) a falsification of religion and a visionary pMlosophg can alone arise ; and Pi'ofessor 

 Sedgwick has therefore strongly condemned such sjjecvlations as unsatisfactory, and 

 they have indisposed him altogether to this view, and inclined him to the second. 



But in any case there is not the slightest blemish cast upon holy writ. ' By 

 faith we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of God, so that the 

 things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear.' But the detail 

 of particulars may open much space for the exercise of conscientious differences of 

 opinion." 



(To be continued.) 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY, 



IN ILLUSTKATION OF THE ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE MUSEUM OF 

 THE BRISTOL INSTITUTION.* 



It having been tliouglit desirable to introduce the several subjects em- 

 braced by this Journal, by a series of prefatory papers, we shall proceed 

 to carry tliis plan into effect with regard to Zoology : and for the clearer 

 elucidation of our views, we shall make constant reference to the museum 

 of the Bristol Institution, which, from its extent and richness, and from 

 the convenience of its situation as far as regards our immediate neighbour- 

 hood, will admirably serve to illustrate our observations, f 



• This introduction had originally been undertaken, and in part prepared, by the 

 Editor ; finding, however, as by degrees the subject expanded itself, that it was 

 likely to include more of the details of the animal kingdom than had at first been 

 contemplated, it became adviseable, for the better accomplishment of the whole, to 

 call in the assistance of at least another, it may be of several labourers. The paper 

 will be left, therefore, until its final conclusion, anonymous. 



+ The collection of the Bristol Institution, that is to say, that portion of it which 

 the dimensions of the building will permit to be arranged, occupies twelve rooms. 



