MR. HENRY B. BRADY ON THE FORAMINIFERA. 291 
Report on the Foraminifera, by Mr. Henry B. Brady, F.L.S. 
Ir can scarcely be expected that the details now presented, 
relative to organisms so minute as the Foraminifera, and consti- 
tuting so small a proportion of the material that must necessarily 
be searched for them, should be of a complete and exhaustive 
character; at the same time a few remarks in connection with 
the more interesting forms which have been identified may not 
be out of place. 
Previous to these operations no opportunity of obtaining 
material from deep water off our coast had occurred, consequently 
it was natural to suppose that many forms would be brought to 
light, which had not hitherto been noted. The varieties occur- 
ring in the shell-sand of the sea beach are chiefly those frequent- 
ing shallow water; the dead shells of which are washed up by 
the tide in great numbers, mixed with broken mollusk shells, 
fragments of coal, and the like, and are chiefly referrible to a 
dozen or fifteen forms. 
The word species must be understood as a relative rather than 
as an absolute term, in speaking of the Foraminifera, there is 
still so much uncertainty as to the extent of the variation com- 
patible with specific identity. The beautiful plates in Professor 
Williamson’s monograph afford so ready a means of reference 
that the end in view is the most readily attained by adhering 
to his nomenclature. This author describes and figures about 
one hundred species and varieties as British—the moro recent 
and more extended researches of Messrs. Parker and Jones 
considerably reduce the number; but for obvious reasons it 
would be inconvenient to make use of their nomenclature and 
Professor Williamson’s drawings. 
Unfortunately the material from the first trip to the Dogger 
Bank was not preserved—being supposed to be valueless— 
but from the washings of mollusk shells and zoophytes, 
some mud was afterwards obtained, scarcely amounting to a 
tablespoonful after the coarser portion was sifted out, and in 
VOL; V. PT. Iv. Ds 
