Letter: Scientists kept occupied by evolution

Sir: Paul Vallely's article (Tabloid, 8 April) was interesting but it contained two errors.

Noah did not take two of each species into the ark, he took two of each "kind". The biblical "kind" is a much broader definition than species. Some scholars have estimated that there are 43 kinds of mammals, 74 kinds of birds and 10 kinds of reptiles. So, no problems with space and not too much difficulty with disposing of wastes.

The time given to Noah to assemble all these creatures was seven days not 24 hours (see Genesis 7:4).

Fundamentalists do a disservice to the biblical record. The Bible uses metaphor, similies, allegory, figures of speech, etc just as we do in our speech and writing. To take each word "literally" is obviously wrong.

MICHAEL DAVENPORT

London SW18