Untitled - eCommons@Cornell - Cornell University

172 ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT.
feasible by the fortunate location of the University, in the midst of
the most important and classical State of the Union, so far as paleon
tology and stratigraphic geology are concerned.
A seemingly large proportionate amount of time is spent in field and
laboratory, with few recitations and lectures, thus giving the future
teacher a knowledge at first hand of these important branches of
geology as taught in secondary schools, and the future specialist pre
cisely the knowledge and methods of work he will need in any
university, state or national geological survey.
Great stress is laid on the study of shells, for by means of them
stratigraphy and the world's geological history are mainly interpreted.
The large University collections of invertebrates, fossil and recent,
mostly shells, have been rearranged and catalogued during the past
few years, and now form a most valuable and indispensable aid to
elementary and advanced workers. Among those most serviceable to
students of older formations will be found : the Jewett collection,
especially rich in New York Silurian species ; local and practically
complete Devonian faunas from Central New York ; the Hartt type
collection of carboniferous fossils from Brazil.
Of late special attention has been given to Tertiary paleontology and
geology, annual field expeditions being sent into the Southern States,
where deposits of this age occur. The enormous amount of mateiial
so obtained when taken in connection with the Newcomb collection of
recent shells (over 10,000 species) furnishes unparalleled opportunities
for work in this branch of paleontology.
B. Mineralogy and Petrography.
In this department both elementary and advanced courses are offered
to students who have the necessary preliminary knowledge of chemis
try and physics. The courses lead in two main directions : (a) toward
an acquaintance with the properties, methods of investigation, and
uses of minerals and rocks ; and (b) toward a knowledge of the char
acteristics of crystalized matter, and of the important relationship
existing between crystallography
chemistry.
and the sciences of physics and
The laboratory rooms and museum are situated at present in McGraw
Hall. They are well equipped with study collections, including the
Benjamin Silliman, Jr., collection of minerals,
and with apparatus
for experiment and investigation. There is also material for original
research.