6 Annual Report of the Regents 



I have likewise added some insects and mollusca, in alcohol, and I 

 propose to increase this department so as to embrace the mollusca of 

 the coast of New York, and some of the fresh water and land shells. 

 I propose also to preserve in the same way, for the purpose of study, 

 the larvae of known insects, especially those which have an interest 

 in their economic relations. 



The collection of Crustacea has been, increased by the addition of a 

 few species, but the department is very imperfectly represented, even 

 in those species known to inhabit the State. 



In the acquisition and preparation of Skulls, Skeletons, etc., of 

 mammalia, I would report that two skulls of reindeer, a skull of the 

 musk ox, and a fine skull and horns of the elk, heretofore in the col- 

 lection, have been macerated and cleaned and are now ready for 

 mounting. 



I have added to the collection, also, the skull of the black tailed 

 deer of the West ; a skull and part of the skeleton of the buffalo ; a 

 skeleton of the antelope and two large skulls of the antelope, and a 

 skull of the big horn or mountain sheep. 



Mr. Kislingbury, who has been employed by the Regents to collect 

 and prepare skeletons of the quadrupeds now or formerly living 

 within the limits of the State, is at work in the museum preparing 

 to mount the skeletons he has collected. 



I have heretofore called your attention to the very inadequate 

 space allotted to the Ethnological and Antiquarian collections. The 

 case is now so full as not to allow a proper arrangement or classifica- 

 tion, and many objects in possession of the museum necessarily 

 remain packed in boxes. A box of specimens received last year 

 from the Smithsonian Institution remains packed as it came to us 

 (though the specimens have been examined), and we have no proper 

 means of arranging or displaying the collection. 



In view of the great and increasing interest attached to this 

 department of knowledge and inquiry, I would earnestly recommend 

 that some steps be taken for increasing the space available for these 

 objects, and that means be adopted to increase the collection. 



The Smithsonian Institution is constantly acquiring large collec- 

 tions of these objects, and the State Museum of New York could 

 easily participate in the distribution which will be made of the 

 duplicates, were proper steps taken at this time. 



I have heretofore reported the completion of an index of the 

 Geological and Palseontological subjects in the Reports on the State 



