The American Museum Journal 



Vol.. 111. 



|.\NU.\RV, 1903 



No I. 



^HE Supplement to the present issue of the Journal 

 discusses in a popular manner the exhibit in the 

 Hall of Fossil Vertebrates, illustrating the evolu- 

 tion of the Horse. The leaflet has been prepared 

 by Dr. W. D. Matthew, Associate Cixrator of the 

 Department of Vertebrate Palaeontology, and is the first in the 

 series of guide leaflets pertaining to the evolution of the fossil 

 mammals as illustrated by the collections in the American 

 Museum. Leaflets descriptive of other groups of fossil verte- 

 brates are in course of preparation and will be issued as rapidly 

 as circumstances permit. The study of fossil Horses at this 

 Museum has been greatly extended and facilitated by the Wil- 

 liam C. Whitney fund, -now beginning the third year of its 

 usefulness. 



DEPARTMENT OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY. 



SECOND COPE COLLECTION. 



Three years ago President Jesup presented to the iluseum 

 the collection of fossil fish, amphibians and reptiles brought 

 from Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas and other 

 portions of the great Rocky Mountain district between 1868 and 

 i8g6, by Professor Edward D. Cope. There has been some delay 

 in completing the final negotiations with the executors of Pro- 

 fessor Cope's estate for the purchase of this and the Pampean 

 Collection, but now fortunately the collections are available for 

 immediate exhibition and descrijition. This ranks as one of the 

 most important events in the history of science in this city, since 

 it gives the American Museum the same pre-eminence as to the 

 older forms of vertebrates which it has held as to fossil mammals 



