78 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VII. No. 160. 



vided in my will for such a disposition of them. As 

 it now seems probable that I may not be able to carry 

 out my original intentions in regard to a Department 

 of Paleontology at Yale, I have decided to present 

 these collections to the University, subject only to 

 certain conditions that appear necessary for their per- 

 manent care and preservation. The deed of gift, 

 which I herewith enclose, bears the date of January 

 1st, 1898. 



These various collections, now deposited in the 

 Peabody Museum in New Haven, include six of 

 special importance which may be briefly described as 

 follows: 



(1) The Collection of Vertebrate Fossils. This is the 

 most important and valuable of all, as it is very ex- 

 tensive, contains a very large number of type speci- 

 mens, many of them unique, and is widely known 

 from the descriptions already published. In extinct 

 Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, of North America, this 

 series stands preeminent. 



This collection was pronounced by Huxley, who 

 examined it with care in 1876, to be surpassed by no 

 other in the world. Darwin, in 1878, expressed a 

 strong desire to visit America for the sole purpose of 

 seeing this collection. Since then it has been more 

 than doubled in size and value, and still holds first 

 rank. The bulk of this collection has been secured 

 in my western explorations, which have extended 

 over a period of nearly thirty years, during which I 

 have crossed the Eocky Mountains twenty-seven 

 times. 



(2) Tlie Collection of Fossil Footprints. These speci- 

 mens are mainly from the Connecticut Valley, and 

 thus have a special local interest. They also form one 

 of the most extensive and complete collections of the 

 kind in this country, if not the most valuable of all. 



(3) The Collection of Invertebrate Fossils. This in- 

 cludes a large number of interesting specimens from 

 many formations and localities, both in this country 

 and in Europe. Some of these fossils I collected my- 

 self, but the greater number were secured by pur- 

 chase. Among the series of specimens especially val- 

 uable may be mentioned several thousand from the 

 famous Mazon Creek locality in Illinois ; a very exten- 

 sive collection of Crinoids from Crawfordsville, in 

 Indiana ; the largest collection of nearly entire Trilo- 

 bites yet discovered, and one of the rarest series of 

 Silurian Sponges known, including important type 

 specimens. 



(4) The Collection of Recent Osteology. This is be- 

 lieved to be the most complete collection in this 

 country for purposes of stndy. I have made special 

 efforts for many years to secure the skeletons of rare 

 existing vertebrates from every part of the world, 

 particularly of Mammals, Birds and Reptiles. The 



collection is rich in Anthropoid Apes, the Gorilla* 

 being represented by no less than thirteen individuals, 

 and the other genera by rare characteristic specimens. 



(5) The Collection of American Archaeology and 

 Ethnology. This collection is the best in the country 

 in several branches of the science, being particularly 

 rich in Central American antiquities, several thousand 

 specimens in number and many of them unique. 

 Some of these I obtained myself in Central America, 

 and among the others is the famous de Zeltner collec- 

 tion, rich in gold ornaments, which I secured by pur- 

 chase. The specimens from Mexico are also of great 

 interest, and the series is a representative one. It in- 

 cludes the well-known Skilton collection. 



(6) T!ie Collection of Minerals. This is a limited 

 collection, but contains many valuable specimens, 

 among them probably the most interesting series- 

 known of Nova Scotian Zeolites. These were mainly 

 collected by myself, before I graduated at Yale, dur- 

 ing six expeditions to Nova Scotia. 



The three principal collections in the above series, 

 numbered 1, 4 and 5, have practically no other repre- 

 sentatives at Yale, and hence their importance to this 

 institution. 



Besides the six main collections named, I havfr 

 several others of less value, which include fossil 

 plants, casts of fossils, geological specimens and re- 

 cent zoological material. These, also, are deposited 

 in the Peabody Museum, and are covered by the 

 present deed of gift. 



****** 



On learning of the acceptance of this gift on the 

 part of the Corporation of Yale University, with the 

 conditions stated in the accompanying deed, I will 

 make the formal transfer to them of all the collec- 

 tions above named. 



Very respectfully, 



O. C. Marsh. 



Yale University, January 1, 1898. 



The conditions on which Professor Marsb 

 gives his invaluable collections to Yale' 

 University, for the benefit of all depart- 

 ments of the University, are few in num- 

 ber, the more important being the follow- 

 ing : 



(1) The scientific collections I now give 

 to Yale University shall be kept in the 

 present Peabody Museum building or in 

 additions thereto equally safe from fire. 



(2) During my life, these collections shall 

 remain, as now, under my supervision and 

 control, available for my own investigation 



