THE “BRITISH FORAMINIFERA” OF EDWARD WALLER (1803–1873): AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE FOR FORAM WORKERS

ABSTRACT

The Museum of Natural History (London) holds an obscure unfinished work by the 19th century naturalist Edward Waller on the benthic foraminifera of Ireland and Scotland. It is dated 1870, a few years before his death. It contains plates by J.J. Wild, later the artist of the Challenger Expedition, showing over a hundred specimens, all without names or descriptions. The plates, some complete, some in progress, ended up in a document with Edward Heron-Allen's bookplate, along with a variety of notes, signed and unsigned. Here is given an exposé of this intriguing work, apparently only ever mentioned in Sherborn's 1888 Bibliography of the Foraminifera. It appears possible that figures include those of presently unknown species, or unknown morphotypes of known species, making close inspection of the plates with the goal of identifying the forms a significant challenge, but of potential interest.