6 NEW YORIC STATE MUSEUM 



Albng the west wall the economic minerals of the State are being con- 

 tinued, though this collection can not be made complete without the 

 addition of many natural specimens and manufactured products which 

 are beyond the present means of the Museum. This collection is very 

 important, as it must become one of the most interesting and instructive 

 features of the Museum. Like the systematic mineral collection, this col- 

 lection is composed of material from any source whatever, though with 

 each specimen will be preserved a record of its source, or the collection 

 to which it belongs. 



The Ward series of casts of fossils has been relabeled and arranged 

 to occupy three cases instead of two, as formerly, and several of the 

 larger ones have been removed from the cases to the center of the room 

 for better display. 



By removing the casts two additional cases were obtainable for the dis- 

 play of Indian relics. They have been fitted with slanting backs to give 

 the best effect. One contains bead and needle work exclusively, while 

 the other is devoted to articles of the chase, out-door life, and games. 

 The entire collection has been cleaned, rearranged and supplied with a 

 uniform set of labels. 



On the fourth floor much cleaning has been done and means have 

 been taken to stop the depredations of moths, which were just beginning 

 to attack some of the specimens. 



The pelts of the New York State mammals exhibited at the World's 

 fair were ruffled and very dusty. Considerable lime has been devoted to 

 remedying this and having the cases cleaned. Owing to the small area 

 available for the purpose, no attempt at a scientific arrangement can be 

 made — it being necessary to fit the stands together, in order to keep all 

 the specimens under glass. 



The collection of birds has been similarly treated. 



The stuffed fishes have been relabeled in accordance with the nomen- 

 clature of Jordan's Manual of the Vertebrates, and arranged in two cases 

 — one containing fresh-water species, the other marine species. 



Several weeks were spent in putting the birds' eggs in good condition, as 

 some were incorrectly labeled, many broken ones required patching, and 

 an arrangement according to Ridgeway's Manual was necessary. 



The storage rooms in basement and cellar have been ransacked — 

 boxes and drawers of specimens and supplies have been labeled, useless 

 material disposed of, a«d a system of arrangement adopted, so that any- 

 thing can be found at a moment's notice. 



