REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



To the Honorable the Board of Regents of the University of the 

 State of New York : 



Gentlemen : 



I have the honor to present to you the following report, regarding 

 the condition of the State Museum, with a brief statement of the 

 additions made to the collections, and work done in the several 

 departments during the past year : 



The collections in the various departments constituting the State 

 Museum of l^atural History, are in good condition, and so far as 

 space and cases will permit, are satisfactorily arranged, and, to a 

 very large extent, properly labeled. A list of additions to each one 

 of the departments will be found appended to this report. 



Donations to the Museum. 



The increase of the Zoological Department, by donation, has not 

 been very extensive, although, some important acquisitions have been 

 made. The number of contributors, as shown by the list of dona- 

 tions, has been nine. Through the Smithsonian Institution, the col- 

 lection of birds' eggs has been increased, and we are indebted to 

 several citizens of the State for other objects in this department, and 

 our acknowledgments are due to Col. Richard J. Dodge, U. S. A., for 

 a specimen of the Black- tailed Deer, two specimens of the Prairie 

 Wolf, and two of the Prairie Dog. The principal accession, how- 

 ever, has been made through the legislative appropriation for the 

 " Special increase of the Zoological Collections," in the purchase of 

 a series of skeletons, prepared under the direction of Prof. H. A. 

 Ward, of Rochester. A list of these will be found appended to the 

 report. 



In the Botanical Department, the record shows no less than 

 twenty-three individuals contributing to the collections, and among 



