REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 



rl55 



Paleontology 



Publications. The state paleontologist reports that, cf the 

 work left unfinished at the death of Prof. James Hall, the late 

 state geologist and paleontologist, whose uncompleted work he 

 lias been directed to prepare for publication, volume 2 of the loth 

 annual report of the state geologist and also the 16th annual 

 report are now completed and printed. The memoir on the 

 Palaeozoic reticulate sponges, which constitutes a part of the re- 

 ports above mentioned and is accompanied by 70 lithographic 

 plates, is also completed, and of this memoir a separate edition 

 has been provided for. All of these reports have now been de- 

 livered. The memoir on the Genera of the Paleozoic corals has pro- 

 gressed as rapidly as circumstances have permitted. The 17th 

 leport of the state geologist is now in press, and the 18th, or that 

 for the last year of Prof. Hall's administration, is completed and 

 awaits printing; 



The paleontologist has issued two University handbooks, num- 

 ber 13, Paleontology, and number 15, a Guide to excursions in the 

 fossiliferous rocks of New York state. The demand for these hand- 

 books has been a gratifying evidence of the interest in this field 

 of knowledge. There is also in press a bulletin, Petroleum and 

 natural gas in New York, by Dr Edward Orton, one. the Lower 

 Silurian system of eastern Mo-ntgomery county, prepared by Pro- 

 fessors C. S. Prosser and E. R. Cumings, and another by the 

 paleontologist comprising a number of scientific papers. All of 

 these are communicated with this report. There is, farther, 

 communicated herewith the manuscript of a memoir entitled the 

 Loiter Qriskany fauna of Bceraft mountain, Columbia county, by the 

 paleontologist. 



Additions to the collection. The acquisitions by donation, col- 

 'lection, purchase and exchange have been considerable and im- 

 portant. Among these are 24 type specimens of sponges and 

 brachiopods, and of the remainder, 450 have been donated and 

 several thousand specimens collected. Of the important ma- 

 terial added by collection a considerable amount is of very 



