Ko- 32.] 5 
found, because no special investigations had ever been raade for this 
object, except in a few localities. In this respect the department of 
palaeontology was unlike any of the other departments of natural histo- 
ry, for in all these, catalogues had been published, which enabled us to 
approximate very nearly to the estimate of what would be found in 
the State. It was, therefore, only after the investigations had been 
commenced and had made some progress, that we became aware of 
the extent of the subject. 
It should farther be recollected that the geological investigations 
had shown that the series of rocks within New- York had not been 
recognized elsewhere, and that their identity with European forma- 
tions described could not be satisfactorily determined; that in fact we 
had been working in a new and unexplored field of geological re- 
search. These circumstances made it necessary to adopt a new 
nomenclature for the designation of our rocks and groups. These 
names are mostly local — names which have become familiar to us 
from being associated with many of the most important and interest- 
ing localities in the State. Our subdivisions and the foundation of 
our nomenclature rested upon the evidence of the fossils contained in 
the rocks ; and it was by this proof only that it could be sustained. 
And I do not hesitate to say that our system of subdivision and our 
nomenclature could not have been sustained had we left it as it was on 
the publication of the geological reports, or with only an imperfect 
volume upon the palaeontology. Unless the fossils of each rock and 
group were fully described and illustrated, the nomenclature of New- 
Yark would have been confined to the State of New-York, and 
zealous and ambitious explorers in other parts of the Union would 
soon have invaded our system of names, by more thorough investi- 
gation of the same strata in other localities, though not possessing so 
complete a series. 
The State of New- York had undertaken a great work, which every 
oite was desirous of seeing creditably finished. It had been shown 
that we had a wide and almost unexplored field in the domain of 
geology, the extent of which was but barely indicated, and which 
future investigations would more fully develope. It had been shown 
that within the State of New- York, that series intervening between 
the base of the older fossiliferous rock and the coal formation, was 
more perfect and complete than had been found in any other part of the 
