PREFATORY DOT: 
THE COLLECTION of fossil vertebrates belonging to the American 
Museum of Natural History comprises the extensive material col- 
lected by the late Professor E. D. Cope chiefly between 1870 and 1890 
and the much larger collections made by the expeditions which have 
been sent out by the Museum every year, beginning with 1891. Most 
of the Museum expeditions have worked in the western States. 
From the beginning of the department in 1891 the collection 
and exhibition of these fossils have been under the direction of Pro- 
fessor Henry Fairfield Osborn, the curator. From 1891 to 1898, in- 
clusive, the exploring parties in the field were under the immediate 
supervision of Dr. J. L. Wortman. Since that time Messrs. Matthew, 
Granger, Brown and Gidley have been in charge of the field work. 
The funds necessary for sending out the expeditions and for the 
purchase of the Cope Collection have been furnished chiefly by Presi- 
dent Jesup and Messrs. Osborn, Whitney and Constable. The ex- 
hibit illustrating the evolution of the Horse is mostly the gift of Mr. 
William C. Whitney. 
EDITOR. 
