vi. Introduction by the Editors. 



letter he observes: "The Marls are of great thickness and, as 

 far as I can learn, are not divisible into Zones, though I see 

 already that there is a change in the Foraminiferal fauna be- 

 tween the highest and lowest portions of the beds. I have 

 therefore taken samples at fairly equal distances apart, and 

 shall work these out first, and then I may know better how, 

 really, to commence the work. I wish I could get some Geologist 

 to visit Biarritz with me at some future time, so that I might 

 benefit by his knowledge- Whilst down there last November 

 I made enquiries, but could not hear of any local Geologist to 

 whom I could apply and I find that works on these strata are 



rare Neither is there a geological map of the district 



published yet, so I begin to think I have an uncommonly tough 

 job before me, but I console myself with the thought that at 

 least I shall get many fine specimens for my cabinet, and am 

 bound to add to my own knowledge, if not to some one else's. " 



Halkyard would appear to have been unacquainted with 

 the works (up to that date) of which we have given a list on 

 page 133, but nevertheless this work which it has been our 

 labour for the past two years to edit and to supplement, affords 

 proof that his tussle with the "tough job" was productive of one 

 of the most important contributions to the literature of the 

 Eocene Foraminifera. 



From this time, however, Halkyard appears to have become 

 to some extent a scientific recluse. His correspondence with 

 us gradually ceased, and nothing being published under his 

 name, we were not even certain whether he was alive or dead. 



In 1915, Heron-Allen was in Manchester, representing our 

 late friend, Edward Minchin, F.R.S., who was President of 

 Section D. in the Meeting of the British Association of that 

 year. At Professor S. J. Hickson's request he examined and 

 rearranged Halkyard's collection of Foraminifera in the Man- 

 chester Museum, among which he found a large number of 

 specimens from Biarritz. It then transpired that these had 

 been given to the Museum some years previously By Halkyard, 

 together with his library and all his MSS, notes, and drawings. 

 The MSS were placed in our Hands for examination and we 

 recognised at once that they were of great importance and 

 ought to be edited and published. Having reported our views 

 to Professor Hickson he succeeded in getting into touch with 

 Halkyard, then living at Alderley Edge. Owing to the state 

 of his health, the author did not feel himself equal to the labour 

 of completing his monograph but, in a letter dated 21st August, 



