70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



searches. The departments of mineralogy, geology, synoptic 

 botany and zoology and paleontology are preceded by an ex- 

 planatory department giving illustrations of the principles of 

 dynamic geology and biology. Each of these is limited in its 

 scope, so far as exhibition is concerned, so as to teach as far as 

 practicable, the evolution of typical structures and forms. These 

 together form the educational series. Above these are placed 

 the systematic collections in exactly the same order, the prin- 

 ciple being that each department in its public exposition shall 

 be a lesson in evolution founded on the available gradations of 

 forms, and the whole series of departments repeat and enforce 

 this proposition. The birds are not included in this arrange- 

 ment. They have been placed on exhibition in accordance with 

 old-fashioned standards. There is now also a New England col- 

 lection in each department. These will be eventually collected 

 into one grand series to form a New England museum which, 

 it is hoped, will not be limited in its scope, but will strive to 

 give a complete presentation of the natural history of New 

 England. 



Cape Ann scientific and literary association, Gloucester. Thomas 

 Conant, president. 



Mineralogy. 1000 specimens. 



Zoology. 500 specimens: fishes and marine invertebrates 

 found off Cape Ann. 



Conchology. 200 specimens. 



Botamy. 200 specimens: ferns and grasses. 



Ethnology. A few Indian implements found in Essex county, 

 Mass. 



City library association, natural history museum, Springfield. 

 William Orr, ouraior; Grace L. Pettis, assistant curator. 



Paleontology. 500 specimens: general, the Upper and Lower 

 Silurian, Carboniferous and Triassic formations being best 

 represented. 



Mlneralogi/. 1300 specimens: representing all important spe- 

 cies; 346 specimens of local minerals. 



Litliology. 175 specimens of local rocks. 



