10 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE REGENTS 



mens are left packed in drawers. This department has been greatly 

 augmented by donations from the Smithsonian Institution, one consign- 

 ment of which was received and acknowledged in 1865, and another in 

 1866 ; the former of which numbers 1,068 species and ] ,680 specimens ; 

 the latter, 702 species and 1,206 specimens. Catalogues of both of 

 these donations accompany the present report. 



The number of distinct contributions to the several collections during 

 the past year is forty -three, besides several volumes of books for the 

 Library. Some of these contributions are of great interest and value. 

 The Trustees take special pleasure in acknowledging the addition of 

 the bones of a Mastodon recently found at Cohoes and presented to the 

 Museum by the Harmony Mills Company, through their agent, Mr. 

 Alfred Wild. The peculiar circumstances under which this animal 

 must have been imbedded, unlike those of most, if not all, the other 

 skeletons found in this country, are believed to be of great importance 

 in determining the natural history and geological relations of this 

 species. The Regents and the Curator, from the first announcement 

 of the discovery of fossil remains in that locality, employed every 

 means in their power to secure their entire excavation and final transfer 

 to the State Cabinet. The success of these endeavors, in view of oppo- 

 sing pecuniary inducements from parties in other States, is a tribute 

 alike to the generosity of the donors and to the attractive power of our 

 own State collection, from which no unique specimens of natural history 

 found within the State should be diverted. A full description of this 

 Mastodon, so far as the parts have been secured, and of the locality and 

 circumstances in which it was found, is in course of preparation, and 

 may be expected to accompany the next Report of the Regents. 



A valuable collection of fossils, which was deposited some years since 

 in the State Cabinet, by the late Ledyard Lincklaen, of Cazenovia, has 

 been donated during the past year by Mrs. Lincklaen, through the Hon. 

 Horatio Seymour, of Utica. 



Several additions to the Economic collection are due to the earnest 

 cooperation of Dr. R. L. Allen, of Saratoga Springs, and of others 

 whose names appear in the annexed list of donations. 



All the larger specimens of the Economic collection have been 

 arranged and labeled. Although yet necessarily incomplete, this depart- 

 ment of the Cabinet is evidently one of great interest to visitors. 

 Many smaller specimens remain to be arranged in cases whenever these 



