46 



Forty-second Annual Report on the 



birds will be permanently arranged and labeled, and a catalogue 

 prepared; the collection of echinoderms will be arranged; the 

 Gould Collection of shells will be worked over with a view to 

 modernizing the nomenclature. Five of Blaschka's glass models 

 have been purchased. As these models are excellent representa- 

 tions of animals, which, at best, can only be preserved in alcohol, 

 and in most cases can not be preserved at all, they constitute 

 valuable additions to the Museum. These models are exquisite 

 in workmanship, and aim to give every detail of structure and 

 coloration with the same delicacy as is found in the living animal. 

 It is proposed, if the trustees consent, to add more of them to 

 the collections. 



Library. 



The library has been removed from room No. 30 of State Hall, 

 and part of it deposited in the northeast room and the remainder 

 placed in the basement room of Geological^ Hall. To accommo- 

 date the latter, cases were built against the west side of the room, 

 affording space for about 500 volumes. This arrangement is not 

 altogether desirable, and is a temporary relief only. In the same 

 room a small hood has been constructed for carrying off the gases 

 in any chemical tests which are occasionally necessary. The room 

 serves the double uses of a working laboratory and library. 



Annual Reports 36 to 39 and Bulletins Nos. 2 and 3 have been 

 sent to many of the more prominent museums and scientific 

 societies. Each budget of reports included a circular requesting 

 the various recipients to enter upon a regular exchange of publi- 

 cations. A comparison of the accessions to the library for this 

 year (Appendix) and the preceding, will show that this circular 

 met with some measure of success. 



Bulletins. 



In 1887 it was resolved to publish part of the scientific work of 

 the Museum in the form of bulletins, which should appear from 

 time to time, as material accumulated. Thus far, Bulletins Nos. 

 2, 3, 4 (consisting of new material), and 5 and 6 (consisting of 

 reprints of Dr. Lintner's papers in the fortieth report) have been 

 published. Bulletin No. 2, by Prof. Peck, containing sixty-six 

 pages and two plates, is a further installment of his excellent work 

 on the Fungi of New York. 



A report on the quarries of building stone in the State was 

 prepared in the winter of 1887-88, and published as Bulletin 



