6 



5,000 of its typical forms already illustrated, and 

 comprises the tangible results of Prof. Hall's life- 

 work. As this work was done from the basis of the 

 New York geological formations, and large collections 

 were made from the Western States for the fuller and 

 more complete illustration and the fixing of the New 

 York geological nomenclature, it became a matter of 

 just pride with us to secure, against the intelligent 

 and liberal competition of foreign scientific bodies, the 

 interesting and authentic examples of a work so ex- 

 tensive and important ; especially as these would re- 

 main the perpetual record of a scientific enterprise 

 under the authority of the State of New York, ex- 

 tending over a period of forty years, and undertaken 

 at a time when the science of Geology had scarcely a 

 name, and no place or position in this country. 



To examine in detail and to arrange systematically 

 that portion which should remain as the permanent 

 property of the Museum, will require a laborious and 

 careful survey of a great ampunt of material, of which 

 no full examination has been made since it left the 

 field, and which remains in many instances in the 

 original cases. When this has been done, large num- 

 bers of very desirable duplicates will remain, which 

 can be made effective in valuable exchanges, and thus 

 our Museum will be able to secure in his or related 

 departments important series of specimens attainable 

 in no other way. The price paid for the Hall Collec- 

 tion is $65,000, of which sum $40,000 have already 

 been subscribed by the Trustees and a few friends of 

 the Museum, so that we feel justified in appealing to 

 our liberal-minded citizens to aid us in securing the 

 remainder. 



