28 
REPORT ON PALZONTOLOGY. 
By Atrpyeus Hyatt. 
Since the first of May, when the paleontological collections of 
Invertebrates were placed under my charge, the following work 
has been done. A general review of the collections was made, 
and their existing condition ascertained. This process, owing to 
their extent, and to the fact that several of them remain still un- 
arranged or in their original wrappers, occupied considerable time. 
A plan of rearrangement for the whole collection has been de- 
cided upon, and a system of labels devised for the trays, with the 
aid of Mr. Robert T. Jackson. 
With the assistance of the same gentleman the Taylor and Day 
collections have been rearranged, and are ready for distribution ; 
the Dyer and the Walcott collections are also nearly ready for dis- 
tribution. About one third of the Schary collection has been un- 
packed. This is of such size that two persons, though occupied 
constantly, could barely have accomplished the work in three 
months with due care for the safety of the labels and often 
delicate and unique specimens. The exquisite preservation and 
number of the specimens and the costly preparations make this 
collection by far the most perfect of its kind I have ever seen. 
A collection for the use of students and another of specimens 
particularly well adapted for exhibition have been begun. The fos- 
sil Protozoa, Hydrozoa, and Corals have been brought together, and 
placed in the room destined for their reception. The fossil plants 
still remaining in the Day, Dyer, and other collections, which had 
not been already laid aside by my predecessor, the late Professor 
Hamlin, have been brought together, and the trays appropriately 
labelled. 
