Nomenclature of the Foraminifera. 99 



namely that which they termed "Nautilus," and as they in- 

 tended to have figured and described (had the work paid its 

 expenses) others of the sections proposed by them to constitute 

 their genera " Hammonium," " Lituus," and " Orthoeeras," a 

 more complete illustration of the Mediterranean fauna, with 

 specimens from other localities, would probably have been made, 

 had their work been completed. 



Impressed with the difficulty of defining species, these authors 

 appear to have seized upon certain well-marked and, as a rule, 

 large forms for description ; and in some degree they were evi- 

 dently led towards a conception of the true characters of a 

 Pihizopodous species, as far as the Cristellarian forms are con- 

 cerned ; still they were so far trammelled with the notion of the 

 Cephalopodous nature of these little shells, that they left the 

 subject almost as they found it, except having put forward 

 the important recognition of the often doubtful value of mere 

 surface-marking and of outline in the characterization of the 

 species. Their careful descriptions, however, and their well- 

 drawn and neatly coloured figures mark an epoch in the biblio- 

 graphical history of Foraminifera. Montagu, in our own country, 

 at the same period was also bestowing care and taste on the de- 

 scription and figuring of these little shells ; but his work had 

 not reached Vienna. 



In the following Table we have arranged, according to their 

 relations, the Rhizopodous shells figured and described by Fichtel 

 and Moll ; and we may remark here, as we have elsewhere, that 

 it is not to confuse the student that we so freely group together 

 under a few specific names the varieties that have received so 

 many distinctive appellations, but to assist in the elucidation of 

 the exact relationship of the several forms ; so that, instead of 

 separate and unintelligible atoms, to be classed only according 

 to their shape and size, the Foraminifera may be ultimately seen 

 to fall into natural groups intimately related and at once carry- 

 ing their meaning, physiologically and zoologically, to the edu- 

 cated eye. We have many collaborators in this pleasing task, at 

 home and abroad, some strong in long experience of these pro- 

 tean animalcules, some powerful with the microscope to unravel 

 their tissue, some bringing a rich knowledge of other forms of 

 life to the work. We gladly contribute the result of our 

 own gatherings in these several branches of research, and firmly 

 believe that ultimately, with conscientious labour, and free ex- 

 pression of independent opinions, the Rhizopodists will arrive at 

 the hoped-for result of placing these Microzoa on as good a basis 

 of classification as that on which many of the higher groups of 

 animals now rest. We may repeat, too, that the varietal names 

 already established are not by any means thrown aside by us in 



