HS PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Excellent for the purposes of study as many parts of the collec- 

 tions in our Museum are at present, I do not doubt that before 

 many months elapse they will be rendered still more valuable by 

 the plans which the Council are now carrying into execution. Our 

 specimens of the suite of formations, with the fossil contents of each, 

 and of the various igneous rocks, in the British Isles, will be ren- 

 dered more complete and accessible. The present arrangements for 

 the foreign specimens we possess have proved inconvenient from 

 the great extent of cabinet-room they occupy, and from the difficulty 

 of keeping them in order without more attendants than we can 

 afford to employ. The Council have not yet determined how our 

 valuable collections illustrative of foi^eign geology may be most 

 usefully arranged, consistent with the means we possess of preser- 

 ving that degree of order which is indispensable for the due effi- 

 ciency of any plan. 



It is a part of the general scheme contemplated for the Museum to 

 have a full Catalogue for each formation or principal group, of all 

 the known fossils belonging to it, and of the lithological charac- 

 ters of its prevailing rocks, both British and foreign, distinguishing 

 the specimens in the possession of the Society, and containing a list 

 of all the works and memoirs that treat especially of the particular 

 group ; so that any one desirous of studying it may find in the 

 rooms of the Society all the information that has been brought to 

 light respecting the group. When each is successively completed, 

 as far as it is possible by the means at the disposal of the Council, 

 it is to be hoped that the Fellows will carefully examine these Cata- 

 logues, and not only hasten to supply the deficiencies, both in spe- 

 cimens and books, which they will in several departments most as- 

 suredly find, but will offer such suggestions for improvement as their 

 several experience and opportunities may enable them. By such 

 union of strength, and such active co-operation of the Fellows, far 

 more will be accomplished than is possible by the unaided efforts of 

 the most active Council and the most zealous officers. 



You are probably all acquainted with the valuable work of Mr. 

 Morris, — his ' Catalogue of British Fossils.' To have rendered that 

 work complete, Mr. Morris would gladly, I have no doubt, have 

 given a figure of each species ; but it would have involved so great 

 an outlay of capital, and enhanced the price so much, that no pro- 

 bable sale would ever have saved him from great pecuniary loss. To 

 render this Catalague more useful in our Museum, I am now pre- 

 paring, with the assistance of Mr. Morris, an illustrated copy of it, 

 which we intend to present to the Society. We take the figures 

 from every authentic source, by cutting up the plates of works in our 

 own possession or contributed by those who are willing to assist us. 

 I have this day laid upon the table for your inspection the first 

 volume of our joint work, containing the Conchifera Dimyaria^ 

 Conchifera Monomyariay Rudistes and Brachiopoda, as a specimen 

 of what is intended ; and it will be proceeded with as quickly as our 

 opportunities will enable us. 



