REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 65 



IX 



REPORT OF THE ZOOLOGIST 



In February of the past year, the Zoologist, Dr. Willard G. Van 

 Name, tendered his resignation and left the service of the depart- 

 ment. Just preceding his departure, Doctor Van Name was 

 engaged in arranging for exhibit the collections of bivalve mollusks 

 and birds' eggs and relabeling in part the bird collection. 



During the period following Doctor Van Name's resignation 

 and the appointment of a new zoologist, a considerable amount 

 of material was worked over and prepared for display by Mr N. T. 

 Clarke and the taxidermist. At this time the collection of corals 

 was unpacked, cleaned and installed in zoology hall ; the birds' 

 eggs rearranged and augmented by additional specimens from the 

 recently acquired Conway collection and a series of skeletons of 

 birds, fishes and mammals installed in cases reserved for them. 

 An interesting tree-toad exhibit designed to show protective colora- 

 tion was placed in zoology hall for the first time and additional 

 specimens of mounted fishes added to those already displayed. 



The preparation of groups has proceeded as far as available 

 material would permit. New groups recently installed are a family 

 of woodchucks and a section of a sand bank with nesting bank 

 swallows. The Museum's collection of univalve mollusks, native 

 to New York State, are now on exhibit but many species are needed 

 to complete the series. The accessions to the department during 

 the fiscal year include the collection of birds' eggs and nests of 

 the late Martin J. Conway of Troy and represent about three hun- 

 dred species. Fourteen pairs of domestic pigeons of as many 

 varieties were secured from Mr B. M. Hartly of West Haven, 

 Conn., and these with the specimens already in the possession of 

 the Museum represent most of the common varieties. 



By exchange with the Victoria Memorial Museum of Ottawa, 

 Canada, a number of sea fowl were secured typical of the great 

 nesting community of Bonaventure island. 



But little time was available for field work, nevertheless in the 

 few days' collecting a rather extensive series of spiders was taken, 

 including many species new to the State and several new to science. 



The visible evidences of the activities of the department repre- 



