FOURTH FLOOR 19 
and their contained organic remains (‘‘fossils’’) may be followed 
by examining the cases along the east, south and west sides 
respectively. The specimens in the desk cases along Geology and 
the center of the hail correspond as nearly as practica- _ Invertebrate 
ble to the neighboring alcove cases. The classification Paleontology. 
of the collection is first according to the great sub-divisions of 
geologic time, then according to geographic provinces and finally 
according to the principal biologic groups represented. The 
European fossils are arranged in the northwestern quarter of 
the hall. 
The prominent feature of the collection is the great series of 
types and figured specimens which it contains. There are here 
8,345 such specimens representing 2,721 species and 190 vari- 
eties. Three-fourths of these are from rocks of Paleozoic age. 
The foundation of the whole exhibit is the famous James Hall 
Collection of fossils and rocks from New York and correspond- 
ing western strata which was purchased by the Museum in 1875. 
In the northern part of the center of the room the Ward- 
Coonley Collection of meteorites is temporarily installed. This 
contains representatives of about 600 falls and finds, and is the 
largest and most important collection in the country. 
Returning through the geological and mineralogical halls to 
the Reptile Corridor (No. 405) we descend to the floor below. 
