334 Prof. G. Seguenza on EUIpsoIdina, 



and more In accordance with the phenomena observable in allied 

 Foraminifera. His introductory observations seem of sufficient 

 general interest to warrant reproduction : the paper has there- 

 fore been translated entire, with the exception of the concluding 

 portion (referring to specific subdivision), which is based upon 

 views since abandoned by the author. The notes and supple- 

 mentary matter are placed at the end as an appendix. — H.B. B.] 



" Natura maxime miranda in minimis." — Linnceus. 



" Before the celebrated Italian, Soldani, had commenced his 

 elaborate researches upon the microscopic creatures now known 

 under the name of Foraminifera^ several other authors had 

 mentioned them in their writings, e.g. Beccarius*, Plancusf, 

 Gualtieri I, Ginanni§, Ledermiiller ||, and others; yet it was 

 Soldani who, by close and persevering study, opened an un- 

 limited field for future discovery by the publication of his 

 widely celebrated works ^. 



" Subsequently the immortal Linneeus, by classifying them 

 amongst other animals, endowed these little beings with scien- 

 tific importance — an importance fm'ther increased by the work 

 of Fichtel and Moll**, published in 1803, in which the Fo- 

 raminifera are well illustrated and described. Accumulated 

 observations afterwards opened the way for the dismemberment 

 of the large genus Nautilus of Linnaeus, which was eifected by 

 Lamarck It and Montfort|:|:. 



" The indefatigable Alcide d'Orbigny followed, and, by his 

 unremitting labours and accurate observations upon these 

 little animals, succeeded in forming his ' Tableau des Cephalo- 

 podes,' by classifying in genera all the known species, together 

 with those he had himself discovered. Till then it had been 

 firmly believed that these microzoa were Cephalopods, be- 

 cause they are provided with many-chambered shells, as some 

 Cephalopods are ; and the observations of M. d'Orbigny up to 

 that time only confirmed this idea. Alas ! to what great mis- 

 takes anticipation may lead ! We may from this error learn 

 how much imjjartiality and accuracy is needed in every kind of 

 observation, and especially in those pertaining to microscopical 



* De Bononensi arena (Comment, Academ. Bonon. i. p. 68). 



t Ariminensis, De conchis minus notis. 1739. 



X Index testarum conchyliomm. 1742. 



§ Mare Adriatico, opere postume. 1757. 



II Amusements microscopiques. 1764. 



•f[ Saggio orittogi'afico, ovvero ec. 1780, e Testaceograpliia. 



** Testacea microscopica &c. ft Animaux sans Vertebres. 



XX Conchyliologie syst^matique. 1808. 



