State Museum of Natural History. 9 



this work. They sought the opinion of the Attorney-General as to the 

 binding force of these contracts, and were advised that the contracts 

 held by Charles Van Benthuysen & Sons were valid, and gave to them 

 the right to execute the printing and engraving for the remaining 

 volumes of the Natural History of the State. They obtained, how- 

 ever, extensive and advantageous modifications of the terms of these 

 contracts, and executed a new and supplementary contract for the due 

 execution of the work under the conditions imposed by the law. 



They also made a contract with Professor James Hall for the execu- 

 tion of the drawings necessary for the plates to be engraved, and for 

 the preparation of the text and explanations of the plates, and for the 

 supervision of the work. 



These contracts with Charles H. Van Benthuysen and with James 

 Hall are herewith transmitted for the information of the Legislature. 



Under these contracts the work of preparing a new volume of the 

 Palaeontology was resumed, and has been pushed forward with all 

 possible speed. It is expected that this volume will be ready for de- 

 livery in February of the present year, and a second volume will be 

 ready by January, 1885. 



The volumes of the Palaeontology owned by the State, and not yet 

 sold or distributed, have been handed over to the custody of the trus- 

 tees of the museum, and the proceeds of the sale of volumes are placed 

 to the credit of the museum library.. 



The trustees in closing this report desire to make grateful mention 

 of the several members of the museum staff, for the faithful and effi- 

 cient manner in which they have performed their arduous duties. 



We respectfully refer for a fuller account of the operations of the 

 several departments of the museum, to the reports of the Director, and 

 of the State Entomologist and State Botanist, which are herewith 

 transmitted. 



The value of the services of these officers will be particularly evident 

 from the recital there given of their work. The State Entomologist 

 has during the past summer been called upon to aid in the threatened 

 invasion of the northern counties of the State by the chinch-bug, one 

 of the most destructive pests of agriculture. The value of Professor 

 Peck's contributions to botany is indicated by the constant demand 

 received for copies of his contributions to the past annual reports of 

 the museum. 



Kespectfully submitted, 



G. W. CLINTON, 



Vice- Chancellor. 

 DAVID MURRAY, 



Secretary. 



[Sen. Doc. No. 60.] 2 



