REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I915 21 



natural beauties. The Clark Reservation will not be improved by 

 the addition of drives and walks or any artificial constructions, but 

 there are certain necessary and unavoidable conditions which will 

 require attention. There is a rickety and dangerous stairway down 

 the face of the great cliff to the lake, and in order to protect the 

 State from any damage claims from accident on this broken con- 

 struction, a sign has been posted on the ends to the effect that 

 visitors are there at their own risk. This stairway should be 

 repaired and the path beneath the cliffs at the bottom of the stairs 

 should be graded sufficiently to make it possible to get along this 

 picturesque embankment without danger. The property has 

 almost no line fences, especially along the rear lines, and as its 

 boundaries are very irregular it is not easy to determine them in 

 their present condition. A survey and map of the property has 

 been made by R. W. Jones and his assistants from the original 

 deeds and every corner has been monumented, but the property is 

 not in any way protected from the incursions of cattle from the 

 adjoining farms. These and other conditions indicate that some 

 attention requiring modest expenditures are necessary to protect 

 the place and to make it suitable for the public use. 



At the time of the present writing these are the only natural 

 monuments in the custody of the State Museum, but we have the 

 reasonable assurance that the Stark's knob near Schuylerville, 

 whose historic and scientific interest has already been described, 

 will be transferred to this Department by the generosity of Mr 

 Emerson McMillin, and there are in mind at the present time one 

 or two other spots of noteworthy interest likely to be invaded and 

 destroyed in the progress of our civilization and which it is hoped 

 may eventually come under our protection. 



This subject of nature reserves is one that will command a 

 wider attention and espousal as time goes on and the appreciation 

 of what the community has already sacrificed becomes more keen. 

 The State of New York has taken the first oflicial steps in 

 America in this matter of the conservation of its lesser monuments 

 and the example is a Vv^holesome one, the sentiment well worthy of 

 nurture. Attention is here particularly directed to an admirable 

 illustration of conservation carried out by a local organization 

 with official municipal encouragement. This is the bird sanctuary 

 erected and cared for by the Cayuga Bird Club within the city of 

 Ithaca. The State Museum has done much to acquaint the citizens 

 with a knowledge of our birds and to encourage their protection, 

 and it is well known that the splendid color plates of the memoir 

 " Birds of New York," were prepared by the accomplished artist. 



