No. 115.] 19 



collections of the State. Notwithstanding the very large collec- 

 tions in this department, it should not be forgotten that the law of 

 1885 and the following contracts provided only for obtaining 

 material for the completion of the work on the palaeontology as 

 then contemplated. These conditions restricted the State Geologist 

 in the limits of the field to be worked, and he had no authority 

 for making collections in the lower rocks. While, therefore, the 

 State collections are very rich in material of the Upper Helder- 

 berg, Hamilton, Portage and Chemung groups, we are extremely 

 poor in the Niagara of the State, and all the formation below that 

 horizon, and have very few representations of the primordial zone. 

 With these very extensive collections of the higher rocks, our 

 duplicate and working collection presents a very one-sided or 

 unequal aspect, and this condition affects the arranged collections 

 of the museum, which, in the lower formation, scarcely presents a 

 creditable exhibition. 



In conclusion I beg leave to repeat my recommendation of last 

 year, that the director be authorized to employ some competent 

 person to devote himself to the selection and distribution into 

 series of the duplicate fossils of the State Museum collections, and 

 especially of the very extensive collection of fossil corals. The 

 accumulation of collections is now so great, including those to be 

 brought in by the State Geologist (the work now in progress), that 

 we shall soon require the use of the drawers and cases now occu- 

 pied by these corals, and shall be compelled to pack them in 

 boxes or distribute them into school collections. 



The report which, as State Geologist, I am required to make, 

 will give some further information on several points referred to in 

 this communication. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JAMES HALL, 



Director. 



