E;*+ - Geological Curators

BOOK REVIEWS
H. A. Nicholson (1844-1899), invertebrate palaeontologist: bibliography and
catalogue of his type and figured material. By M. J. Benton.
1979. Royal ScottishMuseum Information Series, Geology 7.
Henry Alleyne Nicholson published prolifically over a period of 30 years
during the late nineteenth century. He is best known for his work on the fossils
of colonial invertebrates and he pioneered the technique of thin-sectioning which
now plays a vital part in the study of corals, stromatoporoids and bryozoans.
Over 50 genera and 300 species were established by Nicholson in the days before
figured and type specimens were given a repository and number on publication.
The resultant problems faced by contemporary palaeontologists in tracing
Nicholson's specimens are made even more acute by the fact that he deposited his
material in 11 different institutions. M. J. Benton's bibliography and
catalogue of Nicholson's type and figured material should solve most of these
problems. -
Following a brief introduction to Nicholson's life, work and collections,
Benton lists Nicholson's 181 publications and states the new species described
in each and, when known, the month of publication. Most of Benton's catalogue
is a species by species listing of Nicholson's type and figured specimens.
Wisely, there is no attempt to up-date species names. For each species, the
catalogue gives the pertinent publication and the page numbers, figure numbers,
localities and horizons of specimens described. These are matched with the
registration numbers of the institutions which currently house the specimens.
The examples given of Nicholson's handwriting will be of value in tracing the
27% of his figured specimens which remain unlocated. Benton lists additional
specimens studied by Nicholson and identifies any lectotypes etc. which have
been designated by later workers. There is a systematic index and one of
localities. The typographical errors evident in the text (e.g. '-grapsus' for
'-graptus') are unlikely to mislead, but a few less trivial errors were found
when some BM(NH) registration numbers were checked. However, one would not wish
this criticism to depreciate the value of this most welcome publication.
Paul D. Taylor
British Museum (Natural History)
A Museum in Belfast: A History of the Ulster Museum and its Predecessors.
By Noel Nesbitt, 1979. Ulster Museum Publication No. 233. £2.00
Noel Nesbitt has done an excellent job of condensing 150 years of history
and development into 70 pages of eminently readable, well illustrated text.
The booklet deals in four chapters with the Museum in its various periods of
growth and development covering all aspects of Museum life from acquisition
of specimens to orchestral concerts in the art gallery. It covers financial
matters, staff appointments, major events, cataloguing and storage, policy
decisions, IRA disruption, and so on the whole being selected and edited so
proficiently as to make me feel considerable admiration.
Brian Page.