REPORT. 



To the Legislature of the State of New- York. 



The Regents of the University respectfully report : 



That the collections of the Cabinet have been carefully preserved 

 during the past year : those in Natural History, which are peculiar- 

 ly liable to ravage and even destruction by insects, are entirely 

 uninjured; a condition to be ascribed principally to the excellent 

 construction of the cases in which they are enclosed. 



The Shells from the Smithsonian Institution, referred to in the 

 last Report, have been named, and a full Catalogue is hereto ap- 

 pended. 



A generous donation of Freshwater Shells has been received 

 from John G. Anthony, Esq., of Cincinnati, Ohio. These are also 

 catalogued. 



The collections in the Palaeontology of New-York, occupying 

 the entire second floor of the Hall, are in process of labelling and 

 re-arrangement. This will soon be completed, and will be made as 

 nearly as possible to conform to the natural position of the rocks 

 from which the fossils are taken. 



Some additions have been made to the collections in Economic 

 Geology. The enlargement of this department will receive renewed 

 attention during the present year, and the Regents hope to be able 

 hereafter to present a fair exhibition of the natural resources of the 

 State applicable to the various purposes of lile. 



Some of the results of Prof. Hall's investigations in Palaeontology 

 are herewith communicated. These contributions, anticipating the 

 publication of the volumes on this subject in the Natural History of 

 the State, are earnestly sought by those pursuing similar investiga- 

 tions. 



The Regents have availed themselves of every opportunity to 

 perpetuate memorials of the Indian nations who inhabited the State 

 of New- York. These nations have gradually faded aw^ay, and will 

 soon be known only in the records of history. An unpublished 

 manuscript, being a grammatical and lexicographical treatise on the 

 language of the Mohawks, has been entrusted to the Regents, and 

 is herewith communicated, with a recommendation that it be printed 

 in the appendix to this report. 



Respectfully submitted, 



By order of the Regents. 



JOHN Y. L. PRUYN, 

 Albany, April 11, 1862. Chancellor of the University. 



