FOURTH FLOOR 19 



and their contained organic remains (" fossils") may be followed 

 by examining the cases along the east, south and west sides 

 respectively. The specimens in the desk cases along Geology and 

 the center of the hail correspond as nearly as practica- Invertebrate 

 ble to the neighboring alcove cases. The classification Palaeontology. 

 of the collection is first according to the great sub-divisions of 

 geologic time, then according to geographic provinces and finally 

 according to the principal biologic groups represented. The 

 European fossils are arranged in the northwestern quarter of 

 the hall. 



The prominent feature of the collection is the great series of 

 types and figured specimens which it contains. There are here 

 8,345 such specimens representing 2,721 species and 190 vari- 

 eties. Three-fourths of these are from rocks of Palseozoic age. 

 The foundation of the whole exhibit is the famous James Hall 

 Collection of fossils and rocks from New York and correspond- 

 ing western strata which was purchased by the Museum in 1875. 



In the northern part of the center of the room the Ward- 

 Coonley Collection of meteorites is temporarily installed. This 

 contains representatives of about 600 falls and finds, and is the 

 largest and most important collection in the country. 



Returning through the geological and mineralogical halls to 

 the Reptile Corridor (No. 405) we descend to the floor below. 



