29 
HALLS 36, 36, AND 59. ALCOVE 103. 
PALEONTOLOGY. 
The section of Paleontology seeks to illustrate by fossils, 
casts, and models, the animal and vegetable forms which have 
characterized the life of the globe at the succeeding stages of its 
history. The arrangement is primarily chronological, and second- 
arily zoological, and the order to be followed in a study of the col- 
lection is indicated by the numbering of the cases. Passing from 
left to right as one would do in reading a book, the collection may 
not improperly be regarded as a book describing the history of the 
earth from the dawn of life to the present time, though the char- 
acters in which it is written are rock specimens instead of printed 
letters. The series begins in Hall 35, at the left of the entrance from 
the West Court, passes along the west wall, the south wall of Halls 
36 and 59, then to the other side of the same rooms, and back to 
the right of the entrance to Hall 35. The larger specimens in the 
center of the halls it was impracticable to place in chronological 
order, but the specimen labels show the period to which each be- 
longs. All the specimen labels show: ist, the name of the species, 
together with that of the authority by whom named; 2nd, the geo- 
logical period or epoch to which each belongs; and 3rd, the local- 
ity. Wherever a cast is shown, the fact is indicated by the label, 
so that it may not be confounded with actual specimens. 
Under each period the specimens will be found arranged in 
accordance with their zoological rank, beginning with the lowest. 
Plants are placed first, then in order. Protozoans, Radiates, Mol- 
lusks, Articulates and Vertebrates. 
The visitor will find it interesting to note the characteristic 
forms of life of the different epochs, and the increase in number 
and variety of species as the earth’s history advanced. 
Alcove 103. — Here are shown characteristic fossils of var- 
ious periods, including restorations of Ichthyosaurus and Plesio- 
saurus were large marine reptiles of the Jurassic period; 
two large specimens of ArietiteSy a mollusk allied to the modern 
Nautilus; tracks of reptiles of the Triassic age, on sandstone from 
Turner’s Falls, Mass.; fossil fishes of the Tertiary period from the 
Green River, Wyoming, beds; corals, crinoids and echinoderms of 
the Carboniferous age, etc. 
