36 A NOTICE OF THE 



15. GEOLOGY. 



The small collection of rocks is in the east basement-room. 

 Mr. Win. Maclure was among the earliest to contribute to the for- 

 mation of a geological cabinet. He presented more than 1100 

 specimens of the primitive transition and basaltic rocks of 

 Europe, collected by himself while travelling between the Medi- 

 terranean and Baltic seas. He also presented specimens of the 

 rocks of several of the West India Islands. 



Dr. R. E. Griffith presented a series of lavas, collected from 

 various currents ejected from Mount Vesuvius at different 

 periods. 



Dr. S. G. Morton presented a series of the greenstone rocks 

 of Scotland, and a section of Salisbury Craigs, near Edinburgh, 

 collected by himself. Rocks from the northern shore of Lake 

 Superior were presented by Dr. Z. Pitcher, U. S. Army. Spe- 

 cimens collected from the route of the Erie and Hudson canal, 

 were received from the Hon. Stephen Van Rensalaer of New 

 York. To Mr. J. Frampton Watson, to Mr. G. R. Gliddon, to Mr. 

 J. Hamilton Couper, and to many others, this department is in- 

 debted for donations. 



The number of specimens in the cabinet is now 545. 



Among these is a slab of flexible sandstone from Brazil, pre- 

 sented by Dr. T. B. Wilson, so arranged that its extraordinary 

 flexibility may be readily shown. 



Mr. Isaac Lea presented a column of basalt from the Giant's 

 Causeway, Ireland, which is worthy of notice by the visiter. 



16. PALEONTOLOGY. 



In October, 1815, Mr. Jacob Gilliams presented a collection 

 of fossil shells, found by himself in St. Mary's County, Maryland, 

 where he had gone nearly two years prior to that date, expecting to 

 join the military forces then in that neighborhood. This is the 

 earliest record of a donation to the department of palaeontology. 

 In November, of the same year, a collection of fossils, from 

 Sunbury, Pennsylvania, was presented by Dr. Janney. In the 

 course of the year 1816, fossils of New Jersey and of Mary- 

 land were received from Mr. S. Wetherill and Dr. Mease; and in 



