REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 



rl59 



total of 103S individuals, representing 420 species. Of these 353 

 are North American; the others are foreign forms. New York 

 state forms are represented by 325 species. The preparation of 

 this catalogue has entailed a great amount of labor, as all the 

 old records and reports have been searched; and all the available 

 data concerning each individual specimen appear on the card as- 

 signed to this specimen. In some few cases the data are incom- 

 plete, as seemingly no record of time and locality of capture was 

 kept of the earlier specimens in the collection. The birds have all 

 been renumbered. A number is placed on the pedestal on which 

 the specimen is mounted and a corresponding number on the label, 

 so that it is almost absolutely impossible for a label to be mis- 

 placed. The nomenclature has been thoroughly revised to con- 

 form to the latest supplements to the A. O. U. check list, and 

 the collection has been rearranged systematically. As far as 

 possible the data concerning those specimens actually taken in 

 New York state appear on the label. 



The collection of mammals has likewise been very carefully 

 studied, and all the specimens have been reidentified. A new 

 and neater form of label has been devised, and the collection has 

 all been relabeled, the nomenclature conforming to the latest 

 literature on the subject. Of the SI forms accredited to the fauna 

 of New York state, 50 are represented in our exhibit. A card 

 catalogue of this collection has also been prepared. 



The old collection of fishes has also received its share of atten- 

 tion. The labels have been very carefully revised, so that all 

 now conform to the nomenclature in Jordan and Evermann's 

 Fishes of middle and North America. A new series of labels has 

 been written, and the alcohol on those forms preserved in spirits 

 has been either filtered or changed. A card catalogue of this 

 class of vertebrates is now almost complete. 



A collection of birds eggs illustrating the range of variation in 

 size among the eggs of living birds has been arranged. 39 species 

 are represented in the graduated series, ranging in size from the 

 African ostrich to the ruby-throated hummingbird. This forms 

 an interesting and pleasing exhibit. 



