VI INTRODUCTION. 



first mention or origin of every generic and specifie name, the latter being 

 arranged alphabetically under each genus. The synonymy adopted is by 

 no moans exhaustive, just sufficient being given to introduce all English 

 references which are necessary to quote in explanation of the history of 

 either a generic or specific name. 



When the actvial types or figured specimens arc present in this Collection 

 they are indicated at the end of each reference thus : (F. E. Edwards 

 Coll.). To render this part of the work more complete, references to the 

 types and figured specimens in the other Collections preserved in the 

 Department are also inserted in a similar way — as, for instance, when they 

 belong to the " Sowerby," " Dixon," " Wetherell," &c.. Collections. The 

 usefulness of this is manifest, as by this means we furnish a clue to the 

 whole of the type or figured specimens from the British Lower Tertiary 

 horizons in the Geological Department of the Museum. The different 

 Collections referred to in this manner are as follows : — 



Bowerbanlc Collection. — Purchased from the late Dr. J. S. Bowerbank, 

 F.R.S., of Highbury, London, 1805. 



Brander Collection, — Formed by Gustavus Brander, F.R.S., in the early 

 part of the last century. The specimens in this collection are figured and 

 described by Dr. Solander in the ' Fossilia Hantoniensia collecta, et in 

 Museo Britannico deposita,' published in 1766. 



Brown Collection. — ^A small series of Lower Eocene MoUusca from Grove 

 Ferry, near Canterbury, presented by the late Mr. John Brown, F.G.S., of 

 Stanway, Essex, about 1859. 



Dixon Collection. — An important series of specimens collected by the 

 late Mr. Frederick Dixon, of Worthing, a large number of which are 

 figured in his work ' The Geology and Fossils of the Tertiary and Creta- 

 ceous Formations of Sussex,' 1850. Purchased from the Executors, 1851. 



Edwards Collection. — Purchased from the late Mr. Frederick Erasmus 

 Edwards, F.G.S., in 1872-73. 



Gardner Collection. — Purchased from Mr. J. S. Gardner, F.G.S., in 

 1884. 



Mantell Collection. — Purchased from the late Dr. Gideon A. Mantell, 

 1838. 



Frestwich Collection. — Chiefly interesting from the fact that the speci- 

 mens are illustrative of many Lower Eocene localities described by Prof. 

 Prestwich in memoirs published in the ' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.' some forty 

 years ago. Presented by Prof. Joseph Prestwich, D.C.L., F.E.S., 1885. 



Shrubsole Collection. — Presented by W. H. Shrubsole, Esq., F.G.S., of 

 Sheerness, in 1882. 



Smith Collection. — Historically interesting as being the first collection 

 of British fossils formed on a strictly stratigraphical basis, thus demon- 



