Transcribe Notice of the Ward cabinets...the University of Rochester (1863)

24 OPINIONS OF SCIENTIFIC MEN.

any adequate impression of such a collection. A few figures will however assist in a comparison.

The Minerals are arranged according to Dana's last edition: 5, 200 specimens are conspicuously placed on isolated blocks and nicely labelled.

The Rocks (numbering 3,000 specimens are classified according to mineral composition, independent of structure or geological position - a strictly lithological collection. The individual pieces are large, well formed, and whenever needed to show structure or economical value, polished blocks of the same rocks stand beside their rough associates. A complete series of Cordier's species of rocks, labelled by himself, is merged in this lithological collection. In examining this collection one is constantly struck with the number of authentic specimens collected by Prof. Ward from the localities where specific rocks were first described, e.g., Syenites from Syena, Dolomite fromFassathal, Palagonite from Palagonia, etc.

In addition to the lithological collection is another some 700 specimens, arranged stratigraphically, and designed to precede the fossils in each geological formation. Of special collections we noticed a beautiful suite of 350 polished blocks of Italian marbles and ornamental stones, selected and arranged by Prof. Meneghini, of Pisa; a series of 180 Tuscan rocks; of 100 from Mount Blanc; 120 from Paris Basin; 80 from Saxony; 60 from Lake Superior; and 20 from Central France. There is also a superior special collection from Mount Vesuvius, once in d' Archiac's cabinet. Thus the total of rock specimens reaches about 5,000, each well mounted and labelled. The whole is arranged on the system of Cordier, with whom Prof. Ward was a diligent student.

It is difficult to form an estimate of the extent and value of a Palaeontological collection by a statement of numerical quantities. It is probably safe to state that Prof. Ward's collection contains 8,000 distinct species of fossils from European localities, represented by 25,000 specimens, besides the collection of fossils from American localities. Some of the genera we noticed as particularly rich in species. Thus there are about 340 species of Ammonites, 100 species of Echinoderms, 150 species of Trilobites. When completely arranged it is believed that this collection will require about 40,000 labels.

Unique specimens are represented by casts in which Prof. Ward's collection is peculiarly rich, embracing, if the Trilobites and Foramenifera are included, over 200 genera. '