PREFACE. 



The present volume brings to a close the publication of the 

 "PALEONTOLOGY OF NEW YORK," 



AS A PART OF TUB 



"Natural Qistorn of tl)c State of Ncio gork," 



according to the plan proposed and inaugurated by Governor William H. Seward 

 during his administration, 1839-1842. 



At the time of the organization of the survey the question of publication had 

 not been seriously considered ; the annual reports made to the Governor and 

 communicated to the Legislature were necessarily published in the ordinary 

 octavo document form. 



Hon. John A. Dix, in his report preceding the organization of the Geological 

 Survey, had stated that " it is supposed that the entire account of the survey 

 may be contained in three octavo volumes of 700 pages each," together with 

 an atlas, which should contain the maps, " with the necessary drawings of fossil 

 remains." This was the only suggestion regarding the final publication of the 

 results of the survey. In November, 1839, the Board of Geologists made a 

 special communication to the Governor, calling his attention to several matters 

 of interest to the Geological Survey, and concluding as follows: 



" The board would also suggest to the Governor, as matters which will soon 

 require attention, the mode and manner in which the final reports are to be 

 published, and the number and style of maps, geological sections and 

 diagrams."* 



At a later period it was decided that the entire work should be published in 

 quarto form. 



'Aasemhly Document 50, January, 1840. 



