No. 104.] 11 



been given to the State Museum by the Commissioner, Hon. D. J. 

 Johnston, of Cohoes. The collection was received in the early part of 

 the summer, was unpacked and placed on exhibition temporarily on 

 tables and pyramidal shelf-cases in the north-east room (No. 31) of 

 the upper story of the State Hall. Recently it has been removed to 

 the south-west corner room on the second tioor of the same building, 

 and there arranged on cases so as to be more accessible to the public. 

 There are eighteen dressed and varnished specimen planks of native 

 woods of the State ; forty-six specimens of iron ores and associated 

 minerals; twelve specimens of serpentine and ornamental stones; 

 thirty-five of roofing and ornamental slates, and blocks of slate rock; 

 eleven of miscellaneous natural products; and thirty -eight dressed 

 blocks of building stone. The whole makes an interesting exhibit 

 of the economic geological products of the State, and a vahiable 

 addition to the already large collection of building stones and iron 

 ores belonging to the Museum. These together with the Museum 

 collection will form a nucleus for a more specialized exhibit of all 

 the natural products representing the economic geology of the State, 

 The appended list of specimens has been prepared by Charles E. 

 Hall who had charge of the collection at New Orleans. 



Current Work of the Museum. 



The current work of the Museum, in the care, increase and 

 preservation of the collections, has been carried on as usual. 



In regard to the general Zoological Collection, I would beg leave 

 to repeat the views which I expressed in my report of last year. 

 I see no reason for any change at the present time, more especially 

 as our resources are all needed in other work of more importance to* 

 the Museum, and to the general public. This collection has been 

 cared for in the usual manner. The stuffed skins and the skeletons 

 have been removed from their cases, and thoroughly cleaned, and 

 restored to their positions, with some modifications of arrangement. 

 The specimens in all the other collections of this department have 

 been cleaned of dust, and restored to their former positions. 



The reports on Botany and Entomology will show you that a large 

 amount of work has been done in these departments. 



The preparation of sections of fossil corals, for the study of their 

 structure, and the cutting, shaping and polishing of specimens for 

 the Museum collection, has been carried on as heretofore, and with 

 very 'satisfactory results. 



During the year 1885, 1,029 specimens of rocks and fossils, 

 arranged in seven collections, were distributed among the following 

 institutions : 



1. Academic High School Auburn, N. Y. 



G. E,. Cutting, Principal. 



2. Canastota Union School and Academy Can'astota, N.Y. 



3. Hancock Union School Hancock, Delaware County, N.Y. 



4. Kingston Academy Kingston, N.Y. 



F. J. Cheney, Principal. 



