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Donations and Purchases. — Several donations and two 
quite valuable purchases of fossils were made during the year. 
One purchase of a collection of Utica Slate fossils, similar but 
rather more extensive than that asked for in my last annual 
report, and at a smaller price. The second of two handsome 
fossil fish from the Twin Creek, Wyoming Eocene bed. One of 
these formed the basis of an article in the Bulletin. These, with 
other donations and purchases, will be found recorded in the 
Appendix. 
Mineralogical Collection. — But little work has been done 
on this collection further than that made necessary by the addi- 
tion of occasional new material. The catalogue of the collection 
as it now stands was completed by Mr. Gratacap early in the year. 
A number of purchases and donations have been made to this 
collection during the year. The most noted addition is the dona- 
tion by one of our Trustees of the " Tiffany Collection of Gems 
and Gem Material," exhibited by the Tiffany Co. at the late 
Paris Exposition, which is unquestionably the finest collection of 
the kind in existence, and will necessarily be an attractive feature 
of the Museum when it is placed on exhibition. There will, 
however, be a necessity of frequent additions from time to time 
as other material is offered. In fact there is at present quite a 
quantity of such material now in the Tiffany Company's hands, 
which ought to be secured, and also a remarkably brilliant green 
and violet Australian opal now owned by the G. L. English Co. 
Economic Collection. — But few additions have been made to 
this department during the year. Many promises have been made, 
but with small results. E. Fritsch, Esq., of 515 West Twentieth 
Street, has furnished the five other blocks of Algerian marbles, 
thus filling the case, and giving twelve varieties of these marbles. 
Also a box of ore samples (chiefly gold and silver) was received 
from D. O. Mills, Esq., forwarded by S. A. Knapp, Esq., of 
Hawthorn, Nevada, containing 46 lots, with another box on the 
way. These samples of ores are marked to show the mine whence 
taken, and the percentage of metal which they yield. The Col- 
lection of Building Stones still remains in cases in the attic hall- 
ways and on the stairs, the latter subject to defacement and injury. 
It is to be hoped that a permanent place of rest may soon be 
found for this collection in the new building. 
Conchological Collections. —The accessions to this col- 
lection during the year have been quite important and valuable. 
A series of marine shells, presented by D. Jackson Steward, Esq., 
♦Trustee of the Museum, is composed largely of very fine and 
valuable shells ; and is also quite extensive, although not repre- 
senting all the groups, and could it have been incorporated in the 
general collection would have improved its appearance very much, 
