Report of the President. 23 



given, during the year, in working over the collections of fossils, 

 obtained in the past by donation, exchange and purchase, but 

 stored for lack of case room. 



The cataloguing of the type specimens in this hall has steadily 

 progressed, and it is estimated that the work will extend over the 

 coming two years. 



Space has been provided for the expansion of the Mineral col- 

 lection by the removal of the alcoholic specimens to a case in the 

 vestibule of the fifth floor, where they are stored pending their 

 permanent installation elsewhere. 



No important additions have been made to the collection of 

 Gems, with the exception of a very fine pearl and an ounce of 

 Klondike gold nuggets. 



The Curator strongly recommends the formation of a collection 

 of month or birth stones, mottoes, regard and other sentimental 

 series, as a popular supplement to the Gem collection. Another 

 series pertaining to religion could be added. These series would 

 illustrate the sentimental use to which gems and gem stones have 

 been put by different nations and religions at different periods of 

 history, and would present a feature of general and educational 

 interest. 



A large portion of the collection of Shells has been removed 

 from the central hall to the main hall of the fifth floor. All of 

 the D. Jackson Steward collection was thus removed and placed 

 in five of the upright cases and four desk cases. The collection 

 has been arranged on sloping shelves covered with dark-green 

 cloth. This forms a background of dark color, which throws the 

 varied hues of the shells into stronger relief. 



The principal and most notable accession is the Terrell Collec- 

 tion of Fossil Fishes from Ohio, which was very kindly donated 

 by William E. Dodge, Esq. 



Three important meteorites and two fine slabs of polished 

 spheroidal granite from Finland were added by purchase. A 

 showy collection of minerals was also purchased with funds donated 

 for the purpose by Miss Matilda W. Bruce, and a collection of 

 characteristic minerals of New York was presented by Mr. Ernest 

 Schnernikow, of this city. 



