ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. Ivii 



himself is an addition to the hst of British Palaeontologists during 

 the last ten years, and one we all welcome. The labours of Dr. 

 Williamson and Dr. Carpenter have also done much towards clearing 

 up our fossil Foraminifera ; and the untiring exertions of Mr. Harris, 

 of Charing, though inconspicuous in print, have, I believe, been a 

 chief source of fresh materials towards the history of our cretaceous 

 species. 



In the first edition, the Zoophyta are combined with the Bryozoa. 

 When the latter are eliminated there remain 183 zoophytes, chiefly 

 corals. This number has been prodigiously added to within the last 

 ten years, no fewer than 438 species being enumerated in the new 

 catalogue. The increase, in this instance, is due to an entirely new 

 treatment of the subject. To Milne-Edwards and Jules Haime a 

 large proportion of the additions are indebted for their place. Mr. 

 Lonsdale and Professor M'Coy have also contributed extensively. 



The Bryozoa, afew years ago regarded as Zoophytes, but now known 

 to be low forms of the subkingdom Mollusca, amounted to about 132 

 in the first edition. In the new catalogue, they constitute a roll of no 

 fewer than 249 species. This extended list is due to many inves- 

 tigations, and the newly-recorded types come from formations of all 

 ages. Attention seems to have been suddenly directed to these 

 curious bodies both at home and abroad. The study of the British 

 fossil species, vast as is the increase of the recorded numbers, can be 

 regarded only as in its commencement. I trust that geologists who 

 may direct their attention to these bodies hereafter, will bear in mind 

 the complete and searching analysis of the existing species drawn up 

 by Mr. Busk for the British Museum, and guide themselves in de- 

 scribing the fossils by the example of that valuable treatise. 



The Echinodermata, 266 in number in 1843, are now 479 ; the 

 record of species is daily increasing, but I do not think likely even- 

 tually to extend beyond 500 British forms. Major Austin, Professor 

 M'Coy, Dr. Wright, and myself have been the principal workers in 

 this beautiful, and in a geological point of view, invaluable order. The 

 additions of the entire family, including not a few genera and species, 

 of Cystidea to the list, (for the Sphseronites of the former catalogue is 

 probably not a cystidean,) a group as characteristic of the lower 

 palaeozoic formation, as the Graptolites or myriads of Trilobites are, is 

 one of the most striking instances of the progress of palseontological 

 research, and one due for several of its most curious facts to the ex- 

 ertions of Mr. Fletcher, and Mr. John Gray of Dudley. 



The named Annelida were 79 in 1843, they are now 129. The 

 most interesting additions are among palaeozoic forms. 



The Cirripedia, 21 in 1843, are now 42. The value of the increase 

 in this instance is not to be estimated by the merely doubling of the 

 number. They have been thoroughly sifted by a master-hand, ana- 

 lysed with incomparable care, and by a combination of unsurpassed 

 labour with judgement and knowledge of the highest kind, have been 

 brought to a state which may be regarded as, at least for many years 

 to come, the epoch of maximum in their investigation. To Charles 

 Darwin we are indebted for this service. 



