REPORT. 



TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, 



The Regents of the University 

 Respectfully Report : 



That the alterations in the Geological Hall, authorized by the 

 law of 1857, have been made, and the cases for the various 

 collections of the cabinet have been completed. The building is 

 now regarded by all who have visited it as well adapted to its 

 purposes; and is believed, in the elegance of its interior and the 

 convenience of its arrangements, to be unexcelled by any other 

 erected for a similar purpose. 



The zoological collections which occupy the entire upper 

 story are completely arranged. The mammalia and birds of the 

 State are appropriately placed together in the central and wall 

 cases in the west end of the room. It has been the purpose to 

 gather here those animals which annually pass through the State, 

 as well as those which make it their habitat. There are a few 

 still wanting to make the collection complete, and we are ad- 

 monished that the rapid removal of the primeval forests and the 

 advance of civilization are constantly increasing the difficulty 

 of obtaining them. It is proposed soon to issue a catalogue of 

 these deficiencies, and it is presumed that many may be supplied 

 without expense by bringing them to public notice. While the 

 primary object of this part of the Cabinet has been to collect 

 the animals of the State, it has never been proposed to limit it to 

 these. The De Rham Collection which occupies one of the two 

 large central cases, contains many foreign specimens of great 

 beauty. It is respectfully submitted to the consideration of the 

 Legislature, whether valuable means of exchange may not be 



