l6 iSTEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



III 



THE SCIENTIFIC RESERVATIONS UNDER CONTROL OF 



THE MUSEUM 



(with notes on others) 



The number of these reserves which have been set apart by the 

 interest of private citizens and placed in control of the Museum, 

 has been increased by the addition of Squaw island, Canandaigua 

 lake, which has a special geological interest from the fact that the 

 pebbles which compose it are algal balls or deposits of lime-carbonate 

 produced by precipitation through the action of algal growth in the 

 lime-bearing waters. The formation is highly instructive and the 

 process by which these algal deposits or "water-biscuits" were 

 formed was set forth some years ago by the writer in Museum Bul- 

 letin 39. Since then the island and its formation have become of 

 increased interest, not alone from the fact that it is the only place 

 known in the State where this process of algal action and lime- 

 deposit is going on in this form, but also because these "water- 

 biscuits" throw intimate light on the interpretation of the ancient 

 algal reefs, such as the Cryptozoon reef near Saratoga and the 

 great reefs in the Precambrian of the Rocky mountains. Squaw 

 island is thus a geological monument worthy of protection and 

 special note. Of late years the waters of the lake have been under- 

 mining the north end, but this encroachment it is now hoped may 

 be stopped with the construction of a sea wall or a setting of willows. 

 Through the interest of a benefactor of the Museum a large glacial 

 boulder has been moved to the island from the grounds of Brigham 

 Hall, three-fourths of a mile away, and to this has been attached a 

 bronze explanatory tablet, these together constituting a conspicuous 

 and appropriate interpretation to visitors, of the significance and 

 educative interest of the place. The State Musetim acknowledges 

 its obligation in this matter to Mrs Frederick F. Thompson for the 

 erection of the monument and tablet and for the protection of the 

 shores of the island, and to Dr Robert C. Cook of Canandaigua for 

 the gift of the boulder. 



Stark's Knob volcano. This monument, situated 2 miles north 

 of Schuylerville, has been provided with a proper series of guide 

 and explanation tablets, and the- electric railroad passing that point 

 has established a station with landing and sign to be known as 

 "Stark's Knob." 



Cryptozoon ledge, near Saratoga; Clark reservation, near James- 

 ville. These two reservations have been carefully inspected. The 



