BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES II 



world; (c) collections of Alabama species, including 350 species of 

 land and fresh-water shells collected by H. H. Smith. (2) Entomologi- 

 cal collections, including several thousand specimens as yet unnamed, 

 and 1000 named species of Alabama coleoptera, presented by Mr. 

 H. P. Loding, of Mobile. (3) The Mohr alcoholic collection of fishes 

 of Mobile Bay. (4) Alcoholic specimens of marine invertebrates 

 of the Atlantic coast, presented by the Smithsonian Institution. 

 (5) The Tuomey collection of Alabama reptiles. (6) The Avery bird 

 coUection, made by the late Dr. Avery at Greensboro, and purchased 

 by the geological survey and deposited in the museum. The collec- 

 tion consists of 900 specimens of bird skins, representing i75± 

 species. 



Historical Sketch. The present museum has grown from the 

 collections made by the geological survey, under Professor Tuomey 

 from 1S47 to 1857, and under Dr. Eugene A. Smith from 1873 to the 

 present. The collections of Professor Tuomey and of the university 

 were largely destroyed by fire in 1865. The specimens which were 

 saved at that time lost most of their value by the destruction of their 

 labels during the period of reconstruction from 1868 to 187 1. Since 

 1871 the geological department of the university, and since 1873 the 

 geological survey of the state, have been under the charge of Dr. 

 Eugene A. Smith. The present museum has been chiefly accumulated 

 during this period. The state legislature of 1906-7 appropriated 

 $100,000 for the erection of a new building to provide adequate 

 quarters for the museum. 



Financial Support. The museum has no special funds. The 

 expense of collection and administration has been met by the geologi- 

 cal survey, while the cost of cases and other equipment has been borne 

 by the university. 



Building. The new building, named Smith Hall in honor of the 

 director, was completed in December, 1909, at a cost of $100,000 

 appropriated by the legislature. It provides about 12,000 square feet 

 of floor space available for exhibition, and 18,000 for library, offices, 

 workrooms, lecture rooms, and laboratories for the geological survey 

 and for the departments of biology and geology of the university. 



Administration. By a director, who is also professor of geology 

 and state geologist, responsible to the president and board of trustees 

 of the university. 



Scope. Special emphasis is laid upon exploration and exhibition 

 of the biological and geological resources of Alabama, supplemented 

 by general collections, for university instruction. 



