Jffistorical and Type Collecttom. 146 



Phillips adls — " Au attentive examination of this rich collection OALLEBT 

 rendered it unnecessary to study minutely the less extensive series ^^• 

 preserved in other cabinets .... most of the figures of fossils 

 are taken from specimens in Mr. Gilbertson's collection, because 

 these were generally the best that could be found." The Gilbertson 

 Collection was purchased for the British Museum in 1841. 



The collections which follow mark a distinct era in the annals of 

 Geological Science. 



Nearly sixty years ago a little Society was founded by a few xhe 

 London geologists, namely — Dr. J. Scott Bowerbank, F.R.S., London 

 Searles V. Wood, F.G.S., Prof. John Morris, P.G.S., Alfred JJjJ ^^"^^ 

 White, P.L.S., Ifathaniel T. Wetherell, P.G.S., James de Carle 

 Sowerby, F.L.S., and Frederick E. Edwards, F.G.S., for the 

 purpose of illustrating the Eocene Mollusca, and entitled the 

 ''London Clay Club." 



They met at stated periods at each other's houses, and after Palseonto- 

 a time they said, '* Why should we not illustrate all the fossils graphical 

 of the British Islands, and from every formation?" Ifo sooner 1947 ' 

 proposed than a Society was founded, named the Palaeontographical 

 Society, in the year 1847 (fifty years ago). The first volume, 

 issued in that year, was '* The Crag Mollusca, Part I : Univalves " ; 

 by Mr. Searles V. Wood, F.G.S. (with 21 plates). 



Here is preserved the actual Searles Wood Crag Collection. Searles 

 This collection was commenced in 1826, and occupied about thirty JraJ^^**^'* 

 years in its formation. It represents the Molluscan fauna of the Mollusca, 

 Red and Coralline Crags of the neighbourhood of Woodbridge, 1826-66. 

 and from Aldborough, Chillesford, Sudbourn, Orford, Butley, l^^^^\_^^ 

 Sutton, Ramsholt, Felixstow, and many other localities in Suffolk, 

 also from Walton - on - the - Kaze in Essex. The specimens so 

 collected were employed by Mr. Searles Wood in the preparation 

 of his monograph on the Crag Mollusca, published by the 

 Palteontographical Society (1848-61), with Supplements in 1871, 

 1873, and 1879, illustrated by seventy-one quarto plates. Each 

 figured specimen is indicated by a small green label afiixed to it. 



A geological description of the Crag formation by Mr. S. V. 

 Wood, jun., F.G.S, and Mr. F. W. Harmer, was issued by the 

 Palaeontographical Society in 1871 and 1873. 



The collection was presented by Mr. S. V. Wood to the British 

 Museum, January, 1856, and a supplementary collection was given 

 by Mrs, Searles V. Wood in 1885. 



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