MUSEUM BULLETIN 



OF THE 



Statei! f stand association of Erts and Sciences 



LIBRAf 

 EDITED FOR THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE 



BY CHARLES LOUIS POLLARD. CURATOR-IN-CH1 Ef 



No. 20. Published Monthly at New Brighton, N. Y MARCH, 1910. 



THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION 



will be held in the Museum, Borough Hall, St. George, on Saturday evening. 

 March 19, 1910, at eight o'clock. Mr. Alanson B: Skinner. Honorary Assist- 

 ant in Anthropology, will deliver an illustrated lecture entitled "By Canoe to 

 Hudson Bay." 



Arthur Hollick, 



Secretary. 



We regret that through a misunderstanding as to dates the exhibition of 

 old samplers belonging to Mr. George A. Plimpton, announced in the last issue 

 of the Bulletin, has been delayed. The collection has been displayed at 

 Vassar College, and Mr. Plimpton found it impossible to withdraw it before 

 March 15. The samplers are now in the Museum, however, and will be on 

 view for the remainder of the month. Their exquisite colors and fidelity of de- 

 tail are a revelation to those accustomed to think of the hideous late American 

 samplers as representative. 



The experience of the Children's Museum with the live spider monkeys"" 

 "Plato," during the past few months, as well as our own records, prove that 

 there is nothing in a museum more potent in its attraction than a living exhibit. 

 We have had for some time a jar containing three turtles, loaned by Mr. Wm. 

 T. Davis, and one containing half a dozen newts, taken from a spring near 

 Castleton Corners. Visitors examine these little animals with much interest, 

 and those who are fortunate enough to be on hand when the turtles are fed dis- 

 cover that they are not only very tame but in a state of perpetual hunger. 

 They take bits of raw meat readily from the hand. 



Steps are taking to install a salt-water aquarium in the Museum later in 

 the spring. 



Mr. Bristow Adams' lecture on "A prodigal nation" attracted a large 

 audience to the Museum last Saturday evening, and proved highly successful. 

 Conservation of the forests formed the principal topic, and our national extrav- 

 agance, the results of the destruction of the trees, and proper methods of re- 

 forestation were all graphically shown by a large series of beautifully colored 

 lantern slides. 



The Section of Biology intends to start a local conservation campaign with 

 the aim of preserving the natural attractions of our island, and especially of 

 preventing the careless or wanton destruction by fire of the few remaining tracts 

 of woodland. Lectures on this subject will be arranged for at suitable intervals, 

 and educational literature will be distributed in cooperation with the Wild 

 Flower Preservation Society of America. 



Entered as second-class matter in the Post officeat New Brighton. N.Y., under Act of Congress of July 16. 1894 



