8 [Senate 



In 1847, there were found but ten specimens of quadrupeds ; 

 and although the collection of birds was much larger, still most 

 of them were preserved in an inferior manner j and all were more 

 or less injured by the moth. At ptesent, of the whole number 

 of Mammalia credited to the State by Dr. De Kay (SO), excluding 

 such as cannot be expected to be placed in the collection (19), 

 we have 41 out of the 61 ; of Birds (of 308 credited by Dr. De 

 Kay), we have all but 32 ; of Reptilia (34), there are 31 speci- 

 mens ; and of the Amphibia (30), there are 17. 



The collection of Fishes, Shells, &c. is confessedly incomplete j 

 but if the experiments made by Mr. Hurst, of preserving fish in 

 the dry way, should ultimately prove successful, this can be 

 readily attended to. As far as at present ascertained, all his 

 attempts have been favorable. He is also required, in order to 

 prevent injury from the moth or other causes, to examine and 

 clean every specimen semi-annually. 



On the whole, therefore, should the Legislature agree to con^ 

 tinue the present annual appropriation, but few years can elapse 

 before every department will be completed, certainly to the extent 

 of containing a very large proportion of the subjects noticed in 

 the " Natural History of New- York." 



With the rapid enlargement of the Cabinet, the difficulty of 

 giving each and every article a proper place, has, from the want 

 of room, been greatly increased. 



By Order of the Regents, 



a. Y. LANSING, Chancellor. 

 T. BoMEYN Beck, Secretary. 



