REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I 920-2 I 2$ 



renditions of the accomplished artist based on the studies of com- 

 parative anatomy which the department has carried out. Four of 

 these have now been constructed, namely 



i Showing the Eurypterids of the Silurian period. 



2 The assemblage of marine animals constituting in part the fauna 



of the Portage (Upper Devonian) formation. 



3 The fauna of the Helderberg period. 



The 4th has just been constructed and completed. It represents 

 a submarine colony of the extinct glass sponges in extraordinary 

 variety and beauty of coloring, as they are believed to have lived 

 and looked in the waters of the Chemung (Upper Devonian) period — 

 an exemplification of the remarkable plantations of these creatures 

 which in their day covered the sea bottoms of Cattaraugus, Allegany 

 and Chautauqua counties. This group has been constructed by 

 Henri Marchand of the Museum staff and is a gift from Mrs Frank 

 W. Higgins of Olean, as a memorial of her husband, the late Gov- 

 ernor Higgins, during whose term of office and with whose official 

 aid the construction of the present halls of the State Museum was 

 provided for. 



Museum reservations. The Museum controls four parcels of real 

 estate which have been taken over for preservation, through the 

 generosity of its friends, because of their features of extraordinary 

 scientific interest. They are 



1 The Cryptozoon Ledge or Lester Park, in the town of Greenfield, 



near Saratoga Springs. 



2 Stark's Knob Volcano, at Stark's Knob Station 2 miles north of 



Schuylerville. 



3 Clark Reservation, near Jamesville, Onondaga county. 



4 Squaw Island, in Canandaigua lake. 



Such care and wardenship as can be given to these reservations 

 is at the cost of the general maintenance fund of the Museum. 

 Since the acquisition of these interesting properties the committees 

 of the Legislature have taken the attitude that special provision for 

 their maintenance shall not be made, an attitude that is illiberal 

 and out of harmony with the traditions of the State, as well as 

 discouraging to the effort which, in a State so great as this, should 

 be continuously made to preserve from destruction its spots of 

 scientific and educative value. Could some proper guaranty of 

 adequate care have been given, an area of some acres at and about 

 the falls of the Chittenango creek, notable for its geological and 

 botanical interest, as well as for its scenic beauty, would probably 



