174 



THE MUSEUM. 



an}' regular or systematic research of 

 the site; such as has been wisely re- 

 commended by Prof. Putman and 

 others. Such investigations as have 

 been made, are, by every collector 

 choosing a spot for himself, and going 

 it on the root-hog-or-die plan. This 

 has resulted in much of the ground 

 being dug over many times, but at the 

 first digging some of the smaller relics 

 are usually overlooked and some fine 

 objects have been had by such second- 

 ary research. If some genius would 

 only invent some modification of the 

 X-ray machine whereby one could per- 

 ceive what lies under the soil — under 

 which particular refuse-heap that beau- 

 tiful pipe lies, or near which stump that 

 perfect vase, ornamented with its 

 diamonds of cross-hatching, reposes — 

 then the amateur archaeologist would 

 have an easy task at Cayadutta. It is 

 to be regretted that all of the objects 

 gotten at this ancient resort could not 

 have been associated in one collection 

 and deposited cii inassc in some good 

 museum. Really, enough material 

 has been recovered from this place to 

 stock a small museum. 



Mr. Hartley's paper is accompanied 

 with a map of the village-site, showing 

 its lines of fortification, etc., and will 

 probably run through several issues of 

 the journal. All the New York col- 

 lectors should procure and read the 

 series. The first number was well re- 

 ceived by those interested in the vicin- 

 ity, and the papers of the valley have 

 reproduced the article nearly entire. 



THE HELDERBERGS. 



To the many who often visit the 

 Helderberg range in Albany and Scho- 

 harie counties, the news that an elec- 

 tric railway is soon promised to con- 



nect Albany with the Schoharie valley, 

 will be very welcome. 



This road it is proposed to build 

 from Albany across to Clarksville, 

 whence it will probably scale the range 

 turning toward the northward and 

 passing to the west of Countryman Hill 

 (the highest peak of the Helderbergs) 

 will by this course reach Thompson's 

 Lake. It is confidently asserted that 

 this portion of the road will be in run- 

 ning order before autumn. 



In the making of the road-bed for 

 this new enterprise, should any rock 

 cuts be necessary, how eagerly will the 

 debris be scanned by the fossil hunters 

 of Albany and vicinity. Generally 

 weathering is necessary to best bring 

 out in relief the fossils on a slab of 

 limestone, yet certain layers present a 

 good exposure on being freshly quar- 

 ried. 



The best known parts of the Helder- 

 bergs have been gone over so often by 

 fossil and mineral seekers, that it is 

 becoming difficult to find many good 

 specimens, but certainly many secluded 

 localities remain where choice finds 

 will 3et be made, as the majority of 

 those who visit the range follow cer- 

 tain beaten paths from which they sel- 

 dom wander far. 



The Helderbergs also are not with- 

 out attraction to the archaeologist, a 

 certain locality on the shores of 

 Thompson's Lake has yielded on 

 search many relics. This may have 

 been a camp-site, but as yet no pot- 

 tery has been found to my knowledge. 

 The place abounds in flint chips of a 

 peculiar purple color, the material pro- 

 bably having been obtained in the near 

 vicinity. ■ Farther to the south as we 

 near the northern slopes of the Cats- 

 kills, are localities that would probably 



