Bibliographical Notice. 399 



genera and species are well represented, and to the latter the 

 roliitive abundance of the groups in successive ages of the Eurtli's 

 history. 



Tliis is not a more compihition of stat-eracnrs from books on 

 spjciil branches of the subject, but is honestly the result of 

 re~search b)' a real rhi/,o[)odi^t, working in touch with others and 

 fully ac'juainted with the manifold literature of the Foraminifera 

 and their allit;s. Their physical nature and modes of occurrence, 

 their shell-structure, plan of growth, and distribution are carefully 

 elucidated in 4!) pages, and have 26 usefully illustrative text- 

 ti:;ure3. The opinions of early authors and their notions of these 

 Microzoa are concisely given at pages oO-o'J. 



Mr. Chapman then procef^ds with a clear definition and classi- 

 fication of the Foraminifera. In this the advantages of a sound 

 critical knowledge of all the variations of the natural type species 

 support him in linking the divergent forms and in consolidating 

 the systematic assemblages of apparently specific groups. We may 

 note that at page 220 the genus AnomaUna should by right be 

 referred to " IVOrbigny, 182H.-"' 



The resultant ten families are carefully described at pages 73-250, 

 and illustrated by 14 plates, each devoted to the types of one 

 family— mostly in outline, but very correct. Such separate groupings, 

 each giving a roiy) d'ceil of the members of a family, were used with 

 advantage by Dr. J. G. Egger in his Report on the Dredgings of the 

 'Gazelle' (see Ann. & ilag. Xat. Hist., April 1894). 



Very much new and authentic information, as to structure, range, 

 and relationships, has been worked into this important part of the 

 subject. At page 77 a diagrammatic table is introduced, giving 

 the relative persistency and abundance of the Foraminifera in the 

 geological series. The following families are indicated as ranging 

 from the Palaeozoic age or the oldest^known fossiliferous strata, viz. : 

 Textulariidae, Lagenidae, Globigeritiidse, and the Rotalida?. From 

 the later Palaeozoic times the MUiolidae, Astrorhizidae, Lituolidae, 

 and Xummiilinidae continue upwards. The Chilostomellidae seem 

 to be of only Tertiary age. 



The geological range is treated in detail at pages 251-277, and 

 is illustrated by nine very good photographic text-figures of pieces 

 of strata, composed of Foraminifera, from the Cambrian formation 

 iipwards to Tertiary limestones and recent deposits. 



The geographical range (pages 278-290) and the notes on 

 collecting and mounting specimens (pages 291-326) are very 

 interesting, trustworthy, and full of new matter. Classified biblio- 

 graphic lists (pages 307-345) and a carefully constructed index 

 (pages 348-354) complete this very valuable, well-printed, and 

 inexpensive work. 



The frontispiece shows the famous Foraminiferal sands of Dog's 

 Bay. Galway, Ireland. 



There is a short, earnest, friendly dedication to Thomas Rupert 

 Jones, besides allusions to sources of information, and special 

 reference to Professors G. P. Howes and J. W. Judd having kindly 

 aided the Author in carrving out his work. 



