REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I919 9 



previous knowledge of the subject. It is hoped that it may be 

 possible to publish this notable report in the near future. 



In previous reports reference has been made to progress on the 

 monograph of the Devonian crinoids. This extensive undertaking 

 which has been carried forward by W. Goldring, has been com- 

 pleted. Its conclusion puts a period to an undertaking of long 

 standing. 



My last report contained the results oif the examination of the 

 Bonaventure cherts made by Dr Rufus M. Bagg and the results 

 have been of such interest that Doctor Bagg has been asked to 

 prosecute an investigation of the Devonian cherts of the Onondaga 

 limestone with the purpose of determining the microscopic life con- 

 tained therein. 



Paleobotany. In all the history of paleontological investigation 

 and collection in the State, fossil plants have been brought together 

 quite incidentally to other investigations. Seldom has any special 

 effort been made to search them out or to make a careful study of 

 them. Notwithstanding, the Museum has by this desultory pro- 

 cedure come into possession of a very extensive and variant collec- 

 tion of the terrestrial plants of the Devonian period, a collection 

 whidh has been authoritatively characterized as one of the largest 

 assemblages known. Paleobotany is a phase of paleontology which 

 has not received its share of attention in America and an under- 

 standing of the first terrestrial floras of the world has been restricted 

 to a very small circle of students. This is a condition which has 

 prevented the entry of this knowledge into the understanding of 

 intelligent men, all the more regrettable as it is the branch of knowl- 

 edge which has had to do with the beginnings of the vv^hole world 

 of plant Hfe. The paucity of this knowledge and the intelligent 

 requirement for more of it have led the Geology Division of the 

 National Research Council to establish a committee on paleobotany 

 in accordance with the purposes of which, as suggested above, pro- 

 vision has been made for a systematic pursuit of this field in this 

 State. Several collectors are now in the field in search of this ma- 

 terial and their efforts have thus far been attended with excellent 

 results. A promising outcome of this work is indicated by the fol- 

 lowing account of the rediscovery of the fossil " fern " trees of 

 Gilboa in the upper Schoharie valley. 



The fossil trees of Schoharie county. A great autumn freshet 

 in the upper valley of the Schoharie creek in 1869 tore out bridges, 

 culverts and roadbeds around the little village of Gilboa and 

 exposed in the bedrock of the hills a series of standing stumps of 



