48 American Association of Museums 



between 1855 and i860 by the Northwest Boundary Commission, 

 between Canada and the United States, and the Pacific Railroad, 

 Macomb, Ives, and Raynolds expeditions, in the western and south- 

 western parts of the United States, which were made the subjects of 

 reports by Professor Newberry. 



Also of interest historically are the specimens collected by Profes- 

 sor Newberry about 1850, upon which he based his earliest paleo- 

 botanical contribution, "Fossil Plants from the Ohio Coal Basin," 

 published in a series of papers in volumes 1 and II of the Annals of 

 Science, in 1853-1S54. These papers are among the earliest contri- 

 butions to American paleobotany and the specimens represent some 

 of the earliest described American fossil plants. 



The entire collection from the Cretaceous of New Jersey, upon 

 which Professor Newberry based his "Flora of the Amboy Clays," 

 issued as Monographs of the United States Geological Survey, vol- 

 ume 26, together with the larger part of the specimens described by 

 the writer in "The Cretaceous Flora of Southern New York and New 

 England," issued as volume 50 of the Monographs of the Survey, 

 form one of the museum features which appears to attract consider- 

 able attention and evidently possesses an element of interest by 

 reason of its local character. These specimens include practically 

 all that have ever been collected representing the fossil flora of New 

 York City and vicinity, and those from Staten Island, Long Island, 

 Block Island, and Martha's Vineyard could probably never be dupli- 

 cated, as they were collected at intervals during the past twenty-five 

 years, at such fortuitous times as the limited plant-bearing beds 

 happened to be exposed, and most of these are now covered up or 

 obliterated. 



The value of local collections, in inciting interest and a desire to 

 know more about the objects which may be collected within a rela- 

 tively short distance from home, can hardly be over-estimated and, in 

 recognition of this fact, two cases devoted to these specimens have 

 been arranged as a special museum feature. 



The collections in general, as would naturally be inferred from what 

 has been outlined in regard to the origin of those specially mentioned, 

 are very rich in type and figured specimens. These are being card 

 cataloged as rapidly as circumstances permit and, when the work is 

 completed, these will be arranged alphabetically and printed in pam- 

 phlet form for distribution to other institutions and to such persons 

 as may be interested in paleobotanical investigation or research. 



