REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1923. 85 



also two exceptionally tine collections from the Keokuk limestone 

 made respectively by Dr. G. A. Williams of Boonville, Mo., and 

 Lisbon A. Cox of Keokuk, Iowa, which were purchased by Doctor 

 Springer and turned over to Mr. St. John together with his own, 

 for use in his researches. Among other notable specimens contained 

 in this important collection is a very exceptional one from the Coal 

 Measures of Kansas, containing the complete dentition of a large 

 shark of Paleozoic time in a state of preservation such as has not 

 been found elsewhere. This formed the type of the genus and 

 species Agassizodus variaMIis. described and figured in volume 6 of 

 the Illinois reports, and is regarded among ichthyologists as without 

 a parallel among its kind. The material here assembled will be of 

 incalculable value to the specialist who may take up the study of this 

 group, and Doctor Springer has earned the thanks of future workers 

 in thus placing the collection where it will always be available. 

 Reference might also be made here to a second gift from Doctor 

 Springer, consisting of upward of 800 specimen.-, of Upper Carbon- 

 iferous fossils from Jemez Springs. N. Mex. 



Another most notable accession is the residuary portion of the 

 collection of the late R. D. Lacoe, of Pittston, Pa., presented to the 

 Museum by his heirs. The main portion of Mr. Lacoe's collection, 

 estimated to contain upward of 100.000 specimens, of which 800 were 

 types, was acquired b}' the Museum many years ago. and, with this 

 addition, forms one of the most valuable collections of fossil plants 

 in the world. The present accession is estimated to contain not less 

 than 10.000 specimens and includes fossil plants from recent traver- 

 tines in this country, from the Tertiary of Switzerland, England, 

 California, and the Green River and presumably Denver formations 

 of Wyoming and Colorado ; from the Cretaceous of Colorado and Ger- 

 many: from the Jurassic of England, Germany, Austria, and South 

 America; from the Trias of Austria and Virginia; from the Permian 

 of New South Wales, Thuringia, France. England, the United States: 

 from the Pennsylvanian of Great Britain. France, the United States; 

 and from the Devonian of Ireland. Belgium, and America. 



In addition to the plants, there are fossil invertebrates of Tertiary. 

 Cretaceous. Jurassic. Triassic. and Upper Paleozoic ages of several 

 countries in Europe as well ns from the United States: important 

 collections of fossil insects from the celebrated quarries of Solenhofen, 

 Bavaria, and Oeningen. Switzerland, as well as insects and crusta- 

 ceans from the Green River and Upper Paleozoic of the United 

 States. Some of these specimens are in great perfection. Reptilian 

 remains in small amount are from the coal fields of England and 

 the United States and from the Trias of the Connecticut Valley. 

 Several hundred specimens of fossil fishes, some of them in a rare 



