PRELIMINARY NOTE. 



The following paper may seem out of place in the report of 

 the State Geologist, and its presence in this connection may 

 require some explanation. Since the completion of volume IY, 

 Palseontology of New York, I have contemplated the preparation 

 of illustrated catalogues and handbooks in this department, as a 

 part of the museum publications. This subject had received the 

 special attention and consideration of the trustees during several 

 years previous to 1883. Before this time the means of illustra- 

 tion for the museum reports were irregular and uncertain, depend- 

 ing upon the State Printer, whose contracts for printing were not 

 uniform, sometimes providing for lithographic work, and at 

 others we were without such provision. On this account the 

 scientific contributions to the museum reports were irregular 

 and no plan could be made for carrying out such publications 

 as were required of a museum having the objects and pur- 

 poses as expressed by the law of 1871, chapter 557. When 

 the law of 1883 was framed, this subject entered into the consid- 

 eration of the trustees, as shown by the following extract : 



* * * ; " and the trustees of said museum shall be authorized 

 to publish each year the scientific contributions of said staff and 

 such other original scientific contributions as they may deem 

 expedient, which publication shall be in lieu of the reports now 

 required by law from the State Geologist and State Entomologist, 

 and the scientific papers communicated each year to the Legisla- 

 ture along with the annual report of said trustees ; " 

 " and by means of printed handbooks describing said collections, 

 and in such other ways as may be practicable, to make said 

 museum a means of instruction to the citizens of the State." 



" In order to provide for the expense of printing the aforesaid 

 scientific publications and in order to increase the usefulness and 

 efficiency of said museum as aforesaid, the annual appropriation 



