597 
of Edinburgh^ Session 1865-66. 
human race ; and to enforce the duty of reviewing them as the ap- 
pointed paths to human happiness and progress. 
Mr Wyld showed that the doctrine is not only not necessarily 
connected with what is called infidel opinions, but, on the contrary, 
is far more naturally allied with the belief in a supreme Kuling 
Intelligence. 
In the prosecution of the subject, he first directed attention to 
physical law, showing, in particular, in what manner he believed 
the law of attraction to have operated in bringing about the present 
structure of the earth, and to be operating in a similar way in the 
case of some of the planets. 
Eegarding the mental or moral world, the writer showed that the 
entire social system was compacted, and kept in life and energy, by 
virtue of the various appetites, desires, emotions, and passions by 
which man is influenced. 
The conclusion to which the writer is led, in considering this 
part of the subject is, that it is unwise and in vain to talk of re- 
pressing the instinct which leads man to expect sjoecial instances 
of Divine favour. The instinct is a strong and universal one im- 
planted in us, doubtless for wise and useful ends. It would seem 
the part of wisdom, then, rather to regulate than to extinguish it ; 
and this can only be done safely, by showing that the laws of nature 
are the special, just, and wise methods appointed hy the Buler of the 
world for dealing with man, and as such, that they are to be re- 
verenced, submitted to, and obeyed. 
4. Description of Pygopterus Greenoclcii (Agassiz) : with 
Notes on the Structural Kelations of the genera Pygopterus, 
Amblypterus and Eurynotus. By Kamsay H. Traquair, 
M.D., Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University of 
Edinburgh. Communicated by W. Turner, M.B, 
In this paper a detailed description is given of a species of 
Pygopterus (P. Greenockii) from the carboniferous shales of Wardie, 
Mid-Lothian, which was named by Agassiz, but without any figure 
or description, beyond the mention of the fact that the scales of the 
