BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 63 



size of the specimens and the number of foreign localities represented. 

 Special mention may be made of the Higinbotham collection of gems 

 and gem minerals, one of the most valuable in the world; the Chalmers 

 crystal collection ; the collection of meteorites, containing specimens of 

 300 falls with notable ones from Long Island, Brenham, Canyon Diablo 

 and Tonopah; reproductions of limestone and gypsum caves; a model 

 of the moon, 19 feet in diameter; and 200 specimens of polished slabs 

 illustrating different ornamental stones, chiefly marbles and granites. 



PALEONTOLOGY. Invertebrates, on exhibition, 27,000, in storage, 

 31,000, types and figured specimens, 53; Vertebrates, on exhibition, 

 650, in storage, 500, types and figured specimens, n ; Plants, on exhibi- 

 tion, 470, in storage, 550. These collections are installed as a division 

 of geology and classified stratigraphically. They include mounted 

 skeletons and restorations of many of the larger reptiles and mammals. 



ZOOLOGY. Shells, on exhibition, 2o,ooo, in storage, i5,ooo; 

 Insects, on exhibition, 3660, in storage, ioo,ooo, types, 425; Other 

 invertebrates, on exhibition, 1200 , in storage, 4ooo; Fishes, on 

 exhibition, 1021, in storage, 36,950, types, 73; Batrachians, on exhibi- 

 tion, 79, in storage, 1946, types, 3; Reptiles, on exhibition, 119, in 

 storage, 3475, types, 4; Birds, on exhibition, 2000, in storage, 45,ooo, 

 types, 85; Mammals, on exhibition, 710, in storage, 16,000, types, 

 108; Bird eggs, on exhibition, 1183, in storage, io,ooo; Skeletons, on 

 exhibition, 206, in storage, 210; Skulls, 214; Casts and glass models, 

 275. There are 21 large, and 18 small, groups of birds and small 

 mammals and 68 groups of fishes exhibited in natural surroundings. 

 Notable among the collections are the C. B. Cory collection of birds 

 from North America and the West Indies; the collection from East 

 Africa, made by the museum's East African expedition; and a collec- 

 tion of North and Central American bird skins. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. Established in 1894, at the close of the 

 World's Columbian Exposition, by the gift of $1,000,000 from Marshall 

 Field, who bequeathed the institution a further $8,000,000 at his death 

 in 1906 $4,000,000 for the erection of a permanent building, and 

 $4,000,000 for endowment. The nucleus of the exhibition material was 

 gathered by gift and purchase at the exposition. Most of this material, 

 however, has since been rearranged, readapted, or discarded. 



FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Income from endowment of $4,000,000 

 from Marshall Field, and $1,200,000 donated by different individuals; 

 and $35,000 from other sources. The citizens of Chicago have con- 

 firmed legislative provision for the levy of a tax for the maintenance 

 of the museum when a new building shall have been erected, which it 

 is estimated will eventually produce about $100,000 per annum. 



