6 Thirty-first Report on the State Museum. 



institutions where they will be appreciated, and used for the advancement of 

 the sciences which they illustrate. 



Museum Publications. 



The only publications made during the year are the following papers by Mr. 

 C. D. Walcott, special assistant, published in advance of the Museum report 

 and included in the present communication. 



Notes on Sections of Trilobites from the Trenton Limestone. 6 pp., 1 pi. 

 Note upon the Eggs of the Trilobite. 3 pp. 



Descriptions of New Species of Fossils from the Chazy and Trenton Lime- 

 stones. 7 pp. (Describes eight species of Trilobites.) 



It is a matter of deep regret to the Director and to all interested in the in- 

 stitution, that the publication of the annual reports of the Museum, which had 

 been continued without interruption for more than a quarter of a century from 

 the first issue in 1848, should have been for the last three years omitted. The 

 twenty-ninth and thirtieth reports,- for the years 1875 and 1876, have not yet 

 been printed, even as a State document. Of the twenty-eighth report, for the 

 year 1874, only the usual documentary edition was printed, and for the few 

 copies of this report which we have been able to distribute (about fifty), we are 

 indebted to the kindness of the Secretary of State. Some copies have also been 

 obtained at the office of the Secretary of State, on personal application, by 

 parties desiring to obtain them. 



The comparatively smali number of copies of the reports, which the Legisla- 

 tures had annually directed to be printed for the use of the Regents of the 

 University and for the Museum, has been entirely suspended for the past four 

 years. 



The value of these reports is sufficiently attested by the numerous applica- 

 tions made for them, and the character of the sources from which these applica- 

 tions are received. The editions issued have speedily been exhausted or so 

 diminished in number that very few remain. Every effort has been made 

 to sustain the reputation and character of these reports. Not one has been pre- 

 sented, of late years, which does not contain papers which are valuable contri- 

 butions to science, and the result of original investigation. The non-publication 

 of these reports cannot but operate seriously to the disadvantage of the Museum. 

 No such institution, at the present day, can have a position in the world of science, 

 which it does not command by the actual work it accomplishes ; and de- 

 prived of publication, it is essentially deprived of almost its only means of 

 communication with the scientific public. Even delay in publication is often an 

 injustice to an author, whose rightful priority is superceded by another who has 

 earlier facilities of announcement. 



Additions to the Museum by Donation. 



The donations made to the Museum during the past year have not been as 

 many as usual. 



To the Botanical department, twenty-one contributions have been made of 

 (in the aggregate) two hundred and sixteen species. 



To the Zoological department contributions have been made by twenty 

 donors of one hundred and fifteen specimens. 



To the Geological and Mineralogical departments, there have been eight 

 contributors. 



To the Archaeological department, two contributions are recorded. 



To the Library, contributions have been made from twenty-three individuals 

 and societies, of forty-seven pamphlets, and twenty-three bound volumes. 



