REPORT OF THE GEOLOGIST AND PALEONTOLOGIST 1 5 



been made to the general collections. During last August some valuable 

 specimens of fossil reticulate sponges were collected by Jacob Van 

 Deloo and Martin Sheehy, which will be very useful for the especial 

 study of these organisms, upon which a volume is now ready for the 

 printer, and will add to the interest and importance of the general 

 collection. 



The last legislature having made some provision for the prosecution 

 of geological investigations, work of this kind has been actively for- 

 warded. Mr. D. D. Luther has continued his investigation of the 

 geology of the salt and salt-bearing formations and has, during the past 

 field season, especially studied these developments in Onondaga county. 

 Prof. C. S. Prosser has followed the extension and distribution of the 

 Oneonta sandstone and the division of the upper Devonian from the 

 Chenango river eastward to Albany county; and Mr. Clarke has spent 

 some time in the study of the relations of the Oneonta, Ithaca and Port- 

 age groups from the Chenango river westward to Yates county, with a 

 view to the more accurate delimitation of these formations upon the 

 geological map. Professors J. F. Kemp, of Columbia college, H, P. 

 Cushing, of Adelbert college, and C. H. Smyth, Jr., of Hamilton college, 

 have studied the crystalline rocks in Essex, Chnton, Jefferson and St. 

 Lawrence counties. Mr. Heinrich Ries has made a structural and 

 economic survey of Orange county; Dr. D. F. Lincoln a similar survey 

 of Seneca county, and Prof. L P. Bishop one of Erie county. These 

 reports will be communicated during the coming month. 



The south-east corner room in the basement of the State Hall, which 

 had been used for the storage of fossils and minerals, has been, by order 

 of your board, surrendered to the State Engineer and Surveyor. Such 

 fossils as were in that room have been stored elsewhere in our already 

 overcrowded rooms. 



The full report of this department embracing the report of the field 



assistants will be communicated to the legislature during the early part 



of February. 



Very respectfully submitted. 



JAMES HALL 



State Geologist and Paleontologist. 



