836 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



making the Niagara group), the Medina sandstone, the Onondaga 

 salt group, the Hamilton, Portage, and Chemung groups, thus 

 giving typical localities of the rock instead of descriptive names. 

 This method or system of nomenclature leaves no possibility of 

 mistake or confusion which might arise from a different apprecia- 

 tion of descriptive terms. The typical locality always remains 

 for study, comparison, and reference, and there need be no differ- 

 ence of opinion or discussion as to what was intended by the use 

 of any one of the terms. The progress of geological science in 

 the country is greatly indebted to this system of nomenclature, 

 and to the absolute working out of the succession of the groups, 

 and the members of the same, to which this system of nomencla- 

 ture has been applied." 



At the close of the survey he spent some months in Albany 

 (associated with Prof. James Hall) in arranging the State geologi- 

 cal cabinet, the specimens of which he had assisted in collecting, 

 and out of which has grown the New York State Museum. His 

 name was given by his colleagues to several species of the fossils 

 discovered in the course of the survey, and in 1858 Mr. Elkenah 

 Billings named a genus (discovered in Canada) in his honor. 



Prof. Vanuxem's private collection of minerals and geological 

 specimens was considered at the time of his death as " the largest, 

 best arranged, and most valuable private collection in this coun- 

 try." The shell and mineral specimens were fine and many of 

 them very beautiful, but it was the geological department, with 

 its numerous specimens of rock and fossil and the perfect arrange- 

 ment of the whole, giving to the investigator, in the best manner 

 possible, the information sought, and all arranged by his own 

 hands and methods, that constituted its chief value. It was con- 

 stantly visited by eminent scientists both of this country and 

 from abroad. Prof. Agassiz, Sir Charles Lyell, and Dr. Nicolay 

 were drawn to it on more than one occasion. Those who were in 

 the habit of visiting it most frequently, both from interest in it 

 and its possessor, seemed to be filled with enthusiasm, of whom 

 were Dr. Emmons, Dr. Beck, Prof. Timothy Conrad, Dr. Locke, of 

 Cincinnati, and many others. On one occasion, while engaged on 

 the United States Coast Survey, Dr. Locke brought all his para- 

 phernalia of work and his assistants, pitching his tents in a field 

 on the Vanuxem farm near the house ; there he remained for some 

 weeks, continuing his work, at the same time availing himself of 

 the opportunity of study in and examination of the cabinet, mak- 

 ing numerous casts of the specimens, especially the rare fossils. 



After his death. Prof. Vanuxem's collection was purchased by 

 W. M. Stewart, President of Masonic College at Clarksville, Tenn. 

 It was reported that during the civil war the collection was dis- 

 sipated and destroyed, but this rumor could not have been wholly 



