146 Messrs. Parker, Jones, a7id Brady un 



unfinished work, and the latter represents, in all, something 

 less than a score of species without arrangement or reference 

 to each other. 



In the '■ Tableau M^thodique,' however, not only are the 

 Foraminifera separated (though on wi'ong groimds) from their 

 supposed congeners, but all the species known up to the time 

 of its publication are grouped in a perfectly intelligible though 

 artificial way. It is, in point of fact, a classified index to 

 about 550 species, with copious references to figures and de- 

 scriptions given by earlier writers, and illustrated by seven 

 excellent plates of well-selected typical forms. 



In two previous papers (Parts X. and XII. of the present 

 series ; see Ann. Nat. Hist. Dec. 1863 and July 1865 respec- 

 tively) some portions of the ' Tableau ' have been critically 

 reviewed, namely : — 1st, the species (sixty-three in number) 

 adopted from earlier authors, with four others named by 

 D'Orbignyfrom previously published figures (except Soldani's); 

 2ndly, the twenty-six species of which drawings are given in 

 the plates appended to the memoir (Ann. Sci. Nat. vol. vii. 

 plates 10-17*) ; and, 3rdly, species, a hundred in number, 

 illustrated by models f- Our present task, the longest and 

 most difficult, perhaps also the most important, is to give the 

 result of a critical examination of the species based upon the 

 figures in Soldani's ' Testaceographia.' 



For reasons which will appear as we proceed, the Soldanian 

 forms named by D'Orbigny have never received proper re- 

 cognition from naturalists ; we are glad therefore to be able 

 to append to the present synopsis a set of outlines, carefully 

 reduced from the figures in the '• Testaceographia ' referred to 

 in the ' Tableau Methodique,' which, as there is often a diffi- 

 culty in obtaining access to the originals, may form a useful 

 basis for future students. 



A few words at the outset on the work itself and its author 

 can scarcely be out of place. 



Of Soldani's personal history we know but little, and that 



* Aun. Nat. Hist. ser. 3. vol. xii. p. 438 &c. In this critical notice, 

 one species (No. 11, Heterosteyina depressa, p. 305. no. 2, pi. 17. figs. 5-7) 

 was inadvertently omitted. 



t See Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 3. vol. xvi. pp. 15 et seq., pis. 1-3. The four 

 livraisons of 100 models seem to have been followed hy another livraison 

 (S'"^), which we have not seen. It is referred to in the ' MouogTaph of 

 the Foraminifera of Cuba/ p. xxi, note; and Modele No. 113, livr. 5 ( CitJia- 

 rina), and Modele No. 114, livr. 5 {Ilauerina) are mentioned at p. xxxvii 

 and p. xxxviii respectively. A second edition of the models is noticed as 

 having- been brought out, in 1843, by Prof. W. C. Williamson, in the 

 bibliographic list, p. 103, of his "INIonograph Rec. Brit. Forani." (Ray 

 Soc). 



