177 



and very few collections are made with a view to the examination of 

 the interior or more vital parts. To the palaeontologist the interior of 

 the shell is often of more real importance in his investigations than a 

 perfect specimen ; since this part may reveal to him characters more 

 reliable and more constant than the exterior. The same is true of other 

 fossils; whatever exhibits the internal characters and arrangement of 

 parts is very desirable in an extensive and permanent collection, for 

 these furnish at once points of comparison very conclusive, regarding 

 the identity or difference of similar fossils. Every collector, therefore, 

 should understand that those fragments showing internal structure in 

 fossil bodies, are worthy of preservation, and even when these char- 

 acters are apparently unallied to any other, they are nevertheless im- 

 portant in extensive comparisons. I might instance the columns of 

 crinoidea, which occur in fragments in all our, strata. These, when 

 studied, furnish illustrations of the highest interest, and we are often 

 able to connect with certainty the veriest fragment with the perfect 

 form by a minute internal characteristic. Lest there be not observed 

 in this, some important result besides the scientific value and interest, 

 I may mention what every collector knows, that the locations of perfect 

 specimens are few, while those of fragments and detached parts are 

 numerous. Now it is important, upon economical considerations, to be 

 able to recognize fossils by fragments, or fr«m some zoological charac- 

 ter, that in seeking for valuable beds we may know our proximity 

 thereto, not only from the occurrence of perfect fossils, but from the 

 fragments which are preserved in the more numerous localities. 



Since New-York must always remain the classic ground for the study 

 of the geology and palaeontology of the older rocks, no other coun- 

 try having so perfect a development of the systems, it is important 

 that the State collection should contain the most perfect and authen- 

 tic collection of these as of the other productions of her territory. I 

 would appeal, therefore, to the patriotism of our citizens to consider the 

 interests and wants of this collection before they dispose of their beau- 

 tiful specimens to private collections which can never be permanent. 

 As an encouragement to those who have already spoken to me on this 

 subject, expressing hopes of the permanent care and preservation of 

 this part of the collection and who have been only waiting such an ar- 

 rangement to contribute specimens, I may say that the collection has 

 recently been placed by the Regents of the University, in the charge 

 of Mr. John Gebhard, Jr., of Schoharie, whose quiet zeal and untiring 



[Nat. Hist.] 12 



