PREFACE. 



1 HE chief objects in forming the present Synoptical Cata- 

 logue have been, to exhibit at one view a complete Ust of all 

 the specimens of Brachiopodous Mollusca in the Bri- 

 tish Museum Collection, and to furnish such an account of 

 the species known to exist in other collections, but which 

 are at this time desiderata in the British Museum, as the 

 materials at hand would permit me to compile, in order to 

 enable travellers, collectors, and others, to assist in com- 

 pleting the national collection. 



For this purpose, short descriptions have been given of 

 all the genera and species of recent Brachiopoda now known 

 to exist in the different museums and private collections, 

 and of the better-known fossil species of the various fami- 



