REPORT 



To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New Torh : 



The Regents of the University, as Trustees of the State Museum 

 of l!^atural History, respectfully submit this their Twenty-sixth 

 Annual Report: 



The condition of the Museum in its collections and their arrange- 

 ment has been much improved during the last year. Valuable addi- 

 tions have been made, especially to the Zoological Department. 

 Among these are a group of the Buffalo (male, female and a calf), and 

 a male and female Elk — animals formerly inhabiting this State, but 

 not now found within its limits. These were killed, the former in 

 Nebraska, and the latter in Montana, and in size and beauty have 

 rarely been excelled. The Trustees of the Museum gladly availed 

 themselves of the opportunity of obtaining them, which will proba- 

 bly hereafter be rare. They were secured through Professor Ward, 

 of Rochester, whose skill in this line of work is most favorably 

 known to naturalists. A skeleton of the Buffalo has also been 

 obtained, and that of the Elk is in the course of preparation. 



The other additions, both by gift and purchase, appear in the cata- 

 logue hereto annexed. 



The specimens in Mineralogy, nearly all of this State, are being 

 mounted, catalogued and re-arranged. This Department is receiving 

 the special attention of the Director, and it is confidently expected 

 that it will soon compare favorably with the other departments. It 

 ought to contain the best specimens of every mineral found in the 

 State. Several private collections are now offered for sale, the pur- 

 chase of which is very desirable, as they would add greatly to the 

 value and perfection of the collection. The want of means has alone 

 prevented the Trustees from obtaining them. 



The report of the Botanist presents the most gratifying evidence 

 of his industry, and with the collections which he has made, embrac- 

 ing many species not before found in the State, constitutes a valuable 

 contribution to Botanical science. 



