70 Examination of the recived Doclrines 



Button, which is a tantalus; nor the ibis of Hafielquift, 

 which is an ardea; nor that of Maillet, which is a vulture; 

 but a numenius or curlew, which has not yet been named by 

 fyftematic authors, and of which Bruce has given a figure 

 under the name of the abou-bannes. I call it numenius ibis, 

 alius, capite et collo nudis, remigibus pennis uropygii elonga- 

 tis, rojlro et pedibus nigris. 



The tantalus ibis of Linnaeus, in the prefent ftate of his 

 fynonvmy, comprehends four fpecies, of three different 

 genera : 



A tantalus, the ibis of Perrault and Button; 



An ardea, the ibis of Hattelquift ; 



Two numenii, the ibis of Belon ; 



And the ox-bird of Shaw. 

 The reader may judge by this inftance, and many others, 

 of the ftate in which the Syjlema Natures ftill remains, and 

 of what importance it would be to free it gradually from 

 thofe errors with which it abounds, and with which natu- 

 ralifts feem to load it ftill more, by accumulating, without 

 choice and proper examination, fpecies, characters, and fy- 

 nonvms. 



IX. A brief Examination of the received Doclrines refpecling 

 Heat or Caloric. By Alexander Tilloch. Read 

 before the AJkeJian Society, December 1799 *• 



HP 



JL O detail the various theories maintained at different pe- 

 riods, and applied to explain the phenomena to which heat 

 gives rile in the numerous changes prefented bv Nature in 

 chemical combinations and decompofitions, would be taking 

 up the time of this Society unneceflarily, as every member 

 muft be well acquainted with them. I (hall therefore confine 

 myfelf to the modern doftrines on this fubje&J and even 

 with thefe I fhall be brief, as my chief object is, to inquire, 

 Whether none of the circumftances that accompany the 

 known facts in this department of phyfics (fuch of them, I 

 mean, as the limits I have prefcribed to the prefent eflay will 

 • For a fhoit account of this Society, fee Note, p. 353, Vol. Vlt 



4 allow 



