BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 1 79 



rated and will be devoted to the presentation of successive cultures in 

 New York State. 



Paleontology. Invertebrates, on exhibition, 10,000, in storage, 

 500,000, types and figured specimens, 9000; Vertebrates, on exhibi- 

 tion, 200, in storage, 200, types and figured specimens, 50; Plants, on 

 exhibition, 500, in storage, 500, types and figured specimens, 100. 

 This collection includes the Cohoes mastodon (mounted), the Monroe 

 mastodon (unmounted), and a nearly complete skeleton of the Irish 

 elk. 



Zoology. Shells, on exhibition, 14,000, in storage, 86,000, types 

 and figured specimens, 438; Insects, on exhibition, 5700, in storage, 

 134,000, types and figured specimens, 2200; Other invertebrates, on 

 exhibition, 190, in storage, 8800; Fishes, on exhibition, 251, in storage, 

 1700; Batrachians, on exhibition, 33, in storage, 300; Reptiles, on 

 exhibition, 53, in storage, 150; Birds, on exhibition, 1187, in storage, 

 1113; Mammals, on exhibition, 194, in storage, 116. This department 

 contains the R. W. Shufeldt collection of 384 avian skeletons, includ- 

 ing the types of his demonstration. There are 7 large and 10 small 

 groups of animals exhibited in natural surroundings. 



Historical Sketch. The New York State Museum was organ- 

 ized as the New York State Cabinet of Natural History. The nucleus 

 of the coUections is the material gathered in the natural history survey 

 of the state made between 1836 and 1843. ^ n ^-Sj the legislature 

 established the State Museum of Natural History and provided for 

 an annual appropriation of $10,000 with an additional sum of $1500 

 for the salary of a botanist. In 1883 by action of legislature the state 

 geologist and paleontologist, the state botanist, and the state ento- 

 mologist were associated with the state museum, and the whole was 

 placed under the charge of the regents of the University of the State 

 of New York. In 1889 the state museum was made an integral part 

 of the university. 



Financial Support. The museum receives an annual appropria- 

 tion from the state legislature amounting to about $40,000. 



Building. A new building is in course of erection by the state at 

 a cost of $3,500,000 which will provide 100,000 square feet of floor 

 ^ace for museum exhibition and offices. This building will also con- 

 tain the state library and the administrative offices of the depart- 

 ment of education. 



Administration. By a director, responsible to the commissioner 

 of education. 



