PREFACE. 



The following pages are intended as a help to the 

 young student of geology, who is usually bewildered 

 by the abundance of invertebrate fossils when he first 

 commences collecting them himself. There are books 

 of a much higher and more extensive character, such 

 as the treatises on Palaeontology by Owen and 

 Nicholson, to which I am hopeful this present volume 

 will prove introductory. 



I have not attempted to introduce the student to 

 other than invertebrate fossil animals, not only because 

 these are by far the most numerous, but also because 

 such an attempt would have expanded the volume 

 beyond due limits. 



I have recollected the nature of the difficulties 

 which beginners in fossil-collecting feel, and have 

 tried to meet them. My hope has been rather to 

 whet the appetite than to satisfy it. 



Ipswich, March 3, 1885. 



^3 



