Report of the State Geologist. ''221 



We do not yet know the geology of the State of New York with that 

 degree of certainty whicl^, will warrant the publication of a geological 

 map covering the entire area of the State. 



Respectfully submitted. 

 (Signed.) JAMES HALL, 



State Geologist. 



FOSSIL DICTYOSPONGID^ OF THE DEVONIAN AND 

 CARBONIFEKOUS FORMATIONS. 



In 1882 the writer communicated to the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, at its meeting in Montreal, some 

 " Notes on the Family Dictyospongidfe," accompanied by litho- 

 graphed plates from the Thirty-fifth Report on the State Museum 

 of Natural History, illustrating the genera Cyathophycus, Dictyo- 

 PHYTON, Phragmodictya, Clathrgspongia, Physospongia, and 

 showing their relations to Uphant;enia. The paper was not 

 communicated for publication, but an abstract, together with the 

 plates and explanations, "subject to revision," was placed in the 

 hands of the secretary for preservation. 



This preliminary notice had already been published in the 

 Thirty-fifth Museum Report, and also issued as a separate 

 pamphlet, accompanied by four double octavo plates, with 

 explanations. In this notice thirty-seven species had been 

 described under nine generic designations. 



The question of the publication of this material as a separate 

 paper or bulletin was brought before the committee on the State 

 Museum on the 7th of January, 1885, and the following action was 

 had thereon : 



Extract from Minutes of the Board of Regents or Meeting Held 



January 7, 1885. 



"The committee on the State Museum recommended the adoption 

 of the following resolution: 



"Whereas, Director Hall has prepared an important monograph 

 on the subject of Dictyospongidje, which can not be included in the 

 publication of the volumes of Palaeontology provided for in chapter 

 355 of the Laws of 1883, and 



" Whereas, It is important that this monograph be published at an 

 early day; therefore, 



