New York State Museum 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



for the fiscal year ending 30 Sep. 1898 



The honorable, the regents of the University of the State of 

 New Yorh 



Gentlemen : In consequence of tlie recent increase of the museum 

 appropriation, the director of the museum is enabled to report a 

 larger variety of new work accomplished during the last fiscal year. 



A synopsis of the work of the several divisions is given herewith, 

 followed by detailed reports. 



Geology and paleontology 



The work of the season of 1898 in pure geology and paleontology 

 was carried on under the direction of Prof. James Hall, state geol- 

 ogist and paleontologist, till his death in August of that year, 

 A memorial of Prof. Hall's scientific career is included in the report 

 of the state geologist, which forms the second volume of this 

 report. For the remainder of the year this work was continued 

 under the supervision of Dr John M. Clarke, assistant state geolo- 

 gist and paleontologist. ■ 



Not all the operations of that season are here covered by detailed 

 reports, as they were in part a continuation of investigations touch- 

 ing problems which will be considered in future publications. Thus 

 Dr Clarke, accompanied by D. D. Luther, spent some time in the 

 study of the Portage formation and fauna in Chautauqua and Erie 

 counties, and the latter carried forward a revision of the areal 

 geology of Ontario county. Professors J. F. Kemp, H. P. Gushing 

 and C. H. Smyth jr, continued their work in the crystallines of the 



