REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I917 23 



Bird day. The State Bird Day is proclaimed each year by the 

 Museum and its observation is widely celebrated throughout the 

 schools and other communities of the State. The creation of this 

 annual observance is in accordance with a logical outcome from the 

 encouragement which has been given by the Museum to the study 

 of the birds through its publications. It may be noted in this 

 connection that these publications, namely " Birds of New York " 

 in two quarto volumes and the portfolio of plates taken from the 

 publication, are in constant and increasing demand. Up to this 

 time we have distributed nearly four million colored plates of the 

 New York birds. 



The New York State Archeological Association. In the last 

 report mention was made of the organization of a chapter of this 

 association in Rochester, known as the Lewis H. Morgan Chapter. 

 This branch of the association has a present membership of 125 

 and is very active in its researches, the present officers being Alvin 

 H. Dewey, president, and W. H. Cassabeer, secretary. Recently a 

 chapter has been organized at Cooperstown which will interest 

 itself in the archeology of the upper Susquehanna region. This is a 

 vigorous young organization which calls itself the Leatherstocking 

 Chapter. It now has a membership of 35. Its officers are David 

 R. Dorn, president, and R. D. Spraker, secretary. The relation of 

 the State Museum to this association is that of parent organization 

 with the purpose of making the relations of the two of mutual benefit. 



Retirement of Herbert P. Whitlock, Mineralogist. The appoint- 

 ment of Mr Whitlock to the position of curator of mineralogy in 

 the American Museum of Natural History has made necessary 

 his resignation from his equivalent duties here. Mr Whitlock has 

 been a member of this staff for fourteen years and in that time has 

 rendered admirable service in his department, which is reflected 

 both in the Museum arrangements and in the quality of his published 

 investigations. 



Restoration of invertebrate fossils. To rehabilitate the inverte- 

 brate life of the State as represented in the fossiliferous rocks requires 

 an exact understanding of structures, combined with unusual artistic 

 skill. It is a rare combination ; having found it, it is of first importance 

 to take advantage of it. This Museum possesses a wealth of inver- 

 tebrate fossils, in proportion to the wealth of the State itself in these 

 regards. It is eminently appropriate to the Museum that it enter 

 somewhat extensively upon this effort to bring these back to life as 

 far as can reasonably be done. 



