Visit to the British Museum. 425 



We come next to a collection, the very name of whicli betrays the 

 •antiquity of its origin. It is known as " Sowerby's Mineral Concb- 

 ology." 



This Collection was begun by Mr. James Sowerby, prior to 1812, 

 ■and continued by his son, Mr. James de Carle Sowerby, F.L.S., during 

 the preparation of their great work entitled, "The Mineral Conchology 

 of Great Britain," which appeared in parts, between June, 1812, 

 and December 1845, and forms six volumes octavo, illustrated with 

 648 plates. 



The value of the work consists in the fidelity and accuracy of the 

 figures given, and also that most of the specimens drawn are here 

 named and described for the first time. They comprise fossils from 

 all parts of England and from ever}' Geological formation. 



The small green labels mark the specimens actually figured in the 

 work. The Collection was purchased by the Trustees from Mr. 

 J. de Carle Sowerby, January, 1861. 



It may be interesting to record that many of the latter parts were 

 illustrated by plates drawn by the late Mr. J. W. Salter, A.L.S., 

 F.G.S., for so many years palceontologist to the Geological Survey. 

 When a youth, Salter was apprenticed to Mr. J. de Carle Sowerby, 

 r.L.S., who was at that time both a naturalist and an engraver. 

 The youthful apprentice afterwards married his master's daughter, 

 and became, as is well known, one of the most brilliant palaeontolo- 

 gists in this country. 



Another curious, but small series represents the ' types ' or 

 ' figured specimens ' of " Konig's Icones Fossilium Sectiles." 



This illustrated work, on miscellaneous fossils in the British 

 Museum, was prepared by Mr. Charlea Konig, the first Keeper of 

 the Mineralogical and .Geological Department, after its separation 

 from the general Natural History Collections in 1825, 



The engravings are rough, but characteristic, and the first 

 "Century" (or 100 figures of fossils), is accompanied by descrip- 

 tions ; the plates of the second " Century " have names only, but no 

 descriptions are published with them. 



A far more important Collection is that known as '•' The Gilbert- 

 son Collection." 



In 1836 Prof. John Phillips published Vol. II. of his " Illustrations 

 of the Geology of Yorkshire," which is devoted to the " Mountain 

 Limestone District." In the Introduction he writes as follows : — 

 •' My greatest obligation is to Mr. Wm. Gilbertson of Preston, a 

 naturalist of high acquirements, who has for many j'ears explored 

 with exceeding diligence a region of mountain limestone, remarkably 

 rich in organic remains. The collection which he has amassed from 

 the small district of Bolland is at this moment unrivalled, and he 

 has done for me, without solicitation, what is seldom granted to the 

 most urgent entreaty ; he has sent me for deliberate examination, 

 at convenient intervals, the whole of his magnificent collection, 

 accompanied by remarks dictated by long experience and a sound 

 judgment." He (Gilbertson) had projiosed to publish on the 

 Crinoidea himself, but his sketches as Avell as his specimens were 



