P R E F A C E. 



In the year 1846 Mr. G. B. Sowcrby proposed to publish at intervals a series of Plates 

 illustrative of the Crag and Loudon Clay Fossils, to which Mr. Edwards and myself had 

 undertaken to supply the descriptions. It was contemplated to issue alternately a 

 number of each formation in furtherance of this object. The first of these serials was to 

 be upon the Crag; and at the meeting of the British Association, held in September, 184G, 

 at Southampton, a specimen plate of the Crag Fossils was exhibited. In January, 

 1847, Dr. Bowerbank conceived the idea of establishing a society for the purpose of 

 figuring and describing the fossils of Great Britain, in which he was supported by Dr. 

 Fitton, the late Dr. Buckland, and other influential Geologists. There was then in existence 

 a private association, called the London Clay Club, which was composed of a limited 

 number of Tertiary Geologists, who assembled periodically at each other's houses for the 

 study of Eocene Geology, and this was looked upon by the promoters of the contemplated 

 new society as a good promise of material for its support. The desire of encouraging 

 such an object rapidly extended, and a large number of gentlemen speedily enrolled 

 themselves as members of the new society. The Crag Formation had been well examined 

 by myself, and as it appeared to be one that was best known, seemed to offer to the 

 friends of the undertaking the most fitting opportunity for commencement ; and as I 

 was particularly desirous of having the Crag fossils figured and described, I conceived 

 this a more certain mode of extending the knowledge of the contents of that formation 

 than the one I had previously entered into, and made arrangements accordingly with 

 Mr. Sovverby for the alteration, and set to work immediately upon the portion allotted 

 to my labours. My friend, Mr. Edwards, as before stated, intended to publish parts 

 alternately with myself; but the older Tertiary Formations being much richer in species, 

 his portion of the work was not so readily prepared as that of the Crag; moreover, Avhat 

 at that time appeared a feasible mode of proceeding has, by the course of events, become 



1 



