Othniel Charles Marsh. 13 
1. The Collection of Vertebrate Fossils. This is the most 
important and valuable of all. It is very extensive and contains 
a large number of type specimens, many of them unique, 
and is widely known from the descriptions already published. 
In extinct Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles, of North America, 
this series stands preéminent. The collection was pronounced 
by Huxley, who examined it with care in 1876, to be surpassed 
by no other in the world; and Darwin, in 1878, expressed a 
strong desire to visit America for the sole purpose of seeing 
it. Since then it has been more than doubled in size and 
value, and still holds first rank. The bulk of this collection 
was secured in western explorations, which were extended over 
a period of nearly thirty years. 
2. The Collection of Fossil Footprints. These specimens 
are mainly from the Connecticut Valley, and thus have a 
special local interest. 
3. The Collection of Invertebrate Fossils. This includes a 
large amount of interesting material from many formations 
and localities, both in this country and in Europe. Among the 
series of specimens especially valuable may be mentioned 
several thousand from the famous Mazon Creek locality in Illi- 
nois ; a very extensive collection of Crinoids from Crawfords- 
ville, in Indiana; the largest collection of nearly entire Trilo- 
bites yet discovered; and one of the rarest series of Silurian 
Sponges known, including important type specimens. 
4. The Collection of Recent Osteology. This is believed to 
be one of the most complete collections in this country for pur- 
poses of study. Special efforts have been made for many years 
to secure the skeletons of rare existing vertebrates from every 
part of the world, particularly of Mammals, Birds, and Rep- 
tiles. The collection is especially rich in Anthropoid Apes. 
5. The Collection of American Archeology and Ethnology. 
This collection is replete in Central American antiquities, com- 
prising several thousand, many of them unique. Among others 
is the famous deZeltner collection from the same region, con- 
taining a number of gold ornaments. The specimens from 
Mexico are also of great interest, and the series is a repre- 
sentative one. It includes the well-known Skilton collection. 
6. The Collection of Minerals. This is a limited collection, 
but contains many valuable specimens, among them probably 
