194 Specific Characters of Cygnus BcooicJcii and C. Ferns. 



in the walks of this science, and am inclined to pay great de- 

 ference to his experience and judgement in all matters of ob- 

 servation ; and accordingly offer these remarks more in the 

 spirit of inquiry than of controversy, wishing to know more 

 fully his views on the subject of his first two groups of ihe 

 geological series, and leaving all due room for misunderstand- 

 ings of the subject, from the mere sketch he has professed to 

 give of it. But I should imagine it possible for him to devote 

 all his time and attention to the subject, and complete a system 

 tolerably perfect, without entering into any statements of opi- 

 nion hostile to Saci-ed Writ. 



I am afraid I have already trespassed too much on your 

 time; and will therefore subscribe myelf, Your's &c. Z. 



[That it is wrong to endeavour to represent divine revelation as depen- 

 dent on any views of natural philosophy, was the opinion of a distinguished 

 teacher of theology long before tiie present controversies had arisen. — Edit. 



" The Natural Philosophy of the Pentateuch ouglit not to induce us to 

 reject it. It is not at all likely that God, in order to enable a man to be a 

 lawgiver of the Jews, should reveal to him all the causes of the phaeno- 

 niena of nature. But why, you will say, did Moses give this as an authentic 

 diccawnt oi t\\e creation? Suppose I answer, I do not know? It seems to 

 me as if that would be no sufficient reason for rejecting our whole system of 

 religiotis dispensations. — Suppose I answer, Moses might be an inspired 

 writer as a religious minister, and be left to his own notions, or to notions 

 established in his time, as a natural philosopher: and yet he always might 

 write and speak in those different characters, in one and the same tone 

 and style ? Even that would be sufficient to hinder our rejecting the Pen- 

 tateuch." — Lectures in Divinity by Dr. John Hey, Norrisian Pi-ofessor of 

 Divinity in the University of Cambridge, from 1780 to 1793, vol.i. p. 196.] 



XXVIII. Specific Characters ofCygmisBeKsoichii and C. Ferns. 

 By W. Yarrell, Esq. F.L.S. ^r. 

 To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Antials. 

 T^HE great similarity in the external appearance of our two 

 -■■ wild swans, will render a slight alteration necessary in 

 the specific characters hitherto attached to the A?ias Cygnus 

 (Jems) of Linnaeus. 



In addition, therefore, to your obliging notice of Bewick's 

 swan, in the Philosophical Magazine of last month, may I re- 

 quest insertion for the following short distinguishing charac- 

 ters of both species : 



Ordo, Natatores, Uliger. — Fam. Anatidae, Leach. — G«2. Cygnus, Meyer. 

 C. Bewickii^ rostro semicylindrico atro, basi aurantiaca, cor- 



pore albo, cauda rectricibus 18, pedibus nigris. 

 C.Jerus, rostro semicylindrico atro, basi lateribusqiie (his 

 ultra nares) flavis, corpore albo, cauda rectricibus 

 20, pedibus nigris. I am, &c. 



Ryder Street, St. James's, Feb. 6, 18.30. WlM.lAM YarrET.L. 



XXIX. On 



