( B.) 

 WAOS WORTH GALLERY 



OP 



CASTS OF FOSSIL ANIMALS. 



It is a subject of congratulation, and an evidence of the advance 

 of liberal sentiments in regard to the importance of Natural Science 

 in our country, that the most valuable addition to the State Cabinet 

 has been made during the past year. We refer to the unique and 

 magnificent Museum of Casts in the east end of the large hall. It 

 was the accession most needed. Preeminently rich in many depart- 

 ments of fossil zoology, the State Collection was, for an obvious 

 reason, deficient in representing those lords of creation, the Ver- 

 tebrates. But the splendid contribution just made, completes the 

 picture of animal life; and, in doing that, it raises the Collection 

 to the first rank among American Cabinets. For this noble and 

 timely gift, the State is indebted to the munificence of Charles 

 F. WADswor.TH, Esq. of Bufi'alo ; and the act receives double 

 interest from the fact that the Museum, of the highest intrinsic 

 value in itself, was donated by the son of a former Regent of the 

 Universit}', whom, for his patriotic devotion to her in her hour of 

 need, the nation delighted to honor. The specimens number 117 ; 

 and they represent many of the rarest and most extraordinary 

 fossil forms known to geologists. As the majority of the originals 

 are confined to the royal and imperial museums of Europe, and are 

 therefore inaccessible to the American public, these copies will be 

 welcomed as a most important addition. Many of them are known 

 in our colleges only through vague descriptions and incorrect 

 engravings. Indeed the Collection has no parallel on either side of 

 the Atlantic ; for the objects have never before been grouped 

 together in any one museum. Regarded as a part of the Sj^stem of 

 Education in our commonwealth, the State Cabinet is rendered far 

 more attractive and instructive to both students and visitors, by 

 opening to our fellow-citizens the treasures of foreign science. The 

 benefaction will be an enduring monument to the donor ; while it 

 will be gratefully remembered wherever princely liberality is 

 appreciated, and will be a source of national pride to every one 

 who desires to see in the State Capital a satisfactory exposition 

 of Natural Histor3\ 



[ Senate No. 90.] 2 



