32 COMPARATIVE ZO-OLOGY. [June, 



suffice. The plan adopted in the distribution of the vast 

 store of material was fully set forth in the report of last year. 

 The arrangement is such as to render the finding of any given 

 portion of material a comparatively easy task. So far as I 

 am aware, this task was never of so easy accomplishment as 

 now. This is true notwithstanding the large additions made 

 to the collection within the last few years, and the increase 

 which is constantly going on. As the present plan is carried 

 out in greater detail, the consultation of the collection, though 

 the future increase of material should be great, will come to 

 be more and more a matter of pleasure. One of the most 

 serious difficulties now experienced in the way of consulting 

 the entire collection is found in the fact, that many groups 

 simply lie one above another in piles of drawers, instead 

 of being arranged upon racks. 



Of the work done this year in the palseontological depart- 

 ment, the plan was exhibited at large in my last annual 

 report. That report also gives the several sections of the 

 . work as it is now laid out, and in progress of gradual execu- 

 tion, with sufficient minuteness. In indicating the progress 

 actually achieved, I have, therefore, merely to refer to that 

 report, both as to plans and details, simply adding that the 

 main labor during the past year has been expended in the 

 carrying out in greater fulness what is therein indicated in 

 outline. 



The Taconic and Silurian fossils have received their share 

 of attention. To the Devonian, Carboniferous and Dyassic, 

 Mr. St. John has devoted himself with assiduity, and will 

 report upon this portion of the work in detail. Considerable 

 additional labor has been expended in efforts to bring together 

 in completeness all the secondary material belonging to the 

 Museum. Professor Hyatt has carried forward his special 

 work on the Ammonites of the Mesozoic rocks. A large 

 number of this group of Cephalopods is in readiness for 

 mounting, and would have been mounted before this, had 

 there not been uncertainty as to the exact colors to be adopted 

 for the tablets of the Triassic and Jurassic fossils. The 

 Tertiary organic remains have been constant objects of care. 

 Full particulars in regard to them having been given in the 

 last report, I may simply add that the work upon them has 



