1871.] SENATE— No. 327. 25 



gives us, however, one of the most complete collections of 

 the fossils of one locality ever made in this country. The accu- 

 racy with which the localities were determined gives to this col- 

 lection a peculiar value. 



An appropriation having been made for the collection of 

 fossils, Mr. Crandall was sent to some of the important localities 

 in New York State. His work, done with care and great 

 economy, has given us a good amount of material for exchange, 

 and done much to complete our suites of fossils from the Upper 

 Silurian and Devonian of that region. 



The Museum has received this year the very extensive and val- 

 uable collection made by M. Leo Lesquereux, during his long and 

 important work upon the Carboniferous Fossil Plants of this 

 country. This collection is the largest accession made to the de- 

 partment of palaeontology since the purchase of the collections 

 of Bronn and De Koninck. It is believed to be richer in typi- 

 cal specimens than any other American collection, and to fur- 

 nish the best illustration of the Carboniferous vegetation of this 

 continent ever made. This collection, together with those ob- 

 tained from Bronn and Ileer, will enable us to furnish means 

 for the comparison of European and American fossil plants on 

 a more extensive scale than has yet been undertaken. Special 

 effort should be made to give this collection all possible com- 

 pleteness by collecting the plants of certain localities which are 

 not yet adequately represented. The plants from the Coal Basin 

 of Richmond are specially desirable, and the assistant is about 

 to make an excursion to that region. As the owners of the 

 most considerable coal areas in the world, the people of the 

 United States are more directly interested in the study of the 

 character of the Carboniferous vegetation than those of any 

 other country. Yery little labor and expense will enable us to 

 present to the student very adequate means for studying the 

 problems which arise in the scientific or practical investigation 

 of the coal formation. 



Seventeen collections have been sent in exchange, and several 

 others destined for institutions in France, Switzerland and Ger- 

 many, are awaiting the close of the war to be shipped. 



The Museum is indebted to the following persons for dona- 

 tions of fossils : — 

 4 



