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Excerpt from Introduction to the Study of the Foraminifera That our work will prove altogether satisfactory, either to the scientific or to the general reader, is more than we can venture to anticipate. Those who look for precise definitions will not find them here, for the simple reason that the conclusion has been forced upon us that s/mrply defined dz'visz'ons - whether between species, genera, families, or orders - do no! Ewz'st amony Fommz'm'fem. And we are satisfied that any one whose study of the group shall have been coextensive with our own must be ready to this extent to endorse our results. It has been our aim, therefore, to set forth (so to speak) the fundamental idea of each of the generic types we have adopted, rather than to attempt a precise limitation of its boundaries. That some of our generic distinctions may be invalidated by more extended research, is just as likely as that new generic types may present themselves among the collections from ocean beds yet unexplored, or from geological formations as yet unscrutinised. The whole study of this group must still be regarded as in its infancy; and the utmost that we can hope for thislntroduction is, that it may help to give'a mm; direction to that'study. We have the fullest confidence in the correctness of our general principles; and shall not shrink from the consequences of their application to our own work, however large a part of it may thereby be superseded by something better. I have endeavoured throughout my own scientific career to keep in view the noble character given by Schiller of the true philosopher, as distinguished from the trader in science, that he has always loved truth better than his system and will gladly exchange her old and defective form for a new and fairer one. And the readiness with which my coadjutors have accepted my amendments in the instances already alluded to, affords the fullest assurance of their thorough participation with me in the desire, not only that whatever is defective in our joint work may be supplied, but that what is unsound may be demolished, since what shall remain really good and true will then afford a firmer basis for the future labours of others. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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