20 HISTORICAL SKETCH 



A new and more commodius lecture room was thus provided 

 as well as better rooms for the Society's scientific library of 

 about 5000 volumes, for the conchological exhibit and for the 

 excellent archaeological collection of some 5500 specimens. 

 This latter collection had grown from small beginnings to 

 assume a representative character, gaining greatly by the gen- 

 erosity of Mr. Fred. S. Dellenbaugh, Dr. Ernest Wende, Mr. 

 Frederick Houghton, Mr. D. M. Silver and others, by the acqui- 

 sition of the unique collection of Chiriqui pottery, purchased 

 for the Society by Mr. David F. Day, Dr. W. C. Barrett and 

 Dr. Lee H. Smith, and the Riggs Collection of Mound Builder 

 pottery obtained in 1891. At the close of the Pan-American 

 Exposition in 1901 all of the African Village archaeological 

 exhibits were secured for the Society by Mr. Edgar B. Stevens, 

 Dr. Lee H. Smith and Mr. Robert R. Hefford. 



The exhibit of mammals includes the finest group of the 

 American Bison ever mounted, a superb group of Rocky Moun- 

 tain Goats and a large number of other groups, scarcely less 

 noteworthy All of these beautiful groups show the great skill 

 of Mr. Herman Grieb the well known taxidermist who has 

 been for many years a generous and faithful friend of the 

 Society and its fellow worker. The cases for these groups as 

 well as the greater portion of those used for the Society's 

 collections have been made by Mr. H. W. Kruse of this city 

 and show his always able workmanship. 



The Ward collection of casts of fossil remains is of great 

 value to students. The geological and the mineralogical col- 

 lections are very comprehensive in scope and are being con- 

 stantly increased. A recent accession is a splendid meteorite 

 from the celebrated Canon Diablo, presented by Mr. Andrew 

 Langdon in 1906. The famous Clinton Herbarium has been 

 already mentioned as also the fine Bodemeier Collection of 

 European Birds and in addition to this the collection of New 

 York State birds is practically complete. The conchological 

 collection includes a considerable number of types described 

 and presented by Dr. Isaac Lea, as well as a complete collec- 

 tion of local species. The Kellicott collection of types of fresh 

 water sponges is unique of its kind. The valuable reference 

 Library of scientific publications contains over 5000 bound 

 volumes and is being rapidly increased by the Society's 

 exchanges. 



