The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-18
PROF. MARH's GIFTS.
Features of the Collection He Has just
Given to Yale University.

New Haven, Jan. 15.-With the excep-
ton of Vanderbilt Hall. which cost
81 $50, 0O0 no gift received by Yale Uni
rsity is regarded as of equal Importance
with that just presented by Prof. Othniel
C. Marsh, the collections of scientific
objects gathered by him. In terms of
dollars and cents their value cannot be
reckoned. Hundreds of the specimens
are the only ones of their Kind in the
world. The collection represent the life
work of Prof Marsh. and he has given
them freely to Yale, the institution for
which he has worked and struggled all
his life, without, it is said, ever receiy-
ing cent in salary. The gift was con-
veyed to the Yale corporation by Prof.
Marsh at special meeting on Thursday
afternoon. 1t was gratefully accepted
In letter accompanying the deed of
gift. Prof. Marsh points out some of the
features of the collections. OF the collec-
ton of vertebrate fossils he says:
Sin extinct mammals, birds and rep
tiles of North America this series stands
pre-. eminent. This collection was pro-
nounced by Huxley, who examined it
with care in 1876, to be surpassed BY no
other in the world. Darwin, in 1878, ex-
pressed strong desire to visit America
for the sole purpose of seeing this collec
ton. Since then it has been more than
doubled in size and value, and still holds
first rank The bulk of this collection
has been secured in my Western explor.
ations, which have extended over period
of nearly thirty years, during which
have crossedgthe Rock Mountains twenty
seven times.
'sThe collection of invsrtebrate fossils
includes large number Of interesting
specimens from many formations and To-
calities, both in this country and In. Eu-
rope. Some of these fossils / collected
myself, but the greater numberswere Sc
cured by purchase. Among the series of
specimens especially valuable may be
mentioned several thousand from the fla
nous Macon Creek locality in Illinois; a
very extensive collection of crinoids from
Charlottesville, in Indiana, the largest
collection of nearly entire trilobites yet
discovered, and one of the ragest series of
Silurian sponges known, including inn
portant type specimens.
"Ths collection of recent osteology is
believed to be the most complete collec-
ton in this country for purposes of study.
have made special efforts for many
years to secure the skeletons of rare ex-
listing verteE rates from every part of the
world particularly of mammals, birds
and reptiles. The collection is rich in
anthropoid apes. the gorillas being repre-
sented by no less than thirteen individ
uals, and the other genera by rare char
acteristic specimens.
.sThe collection of American Archaeology
and ethnology ia the best in the country
in several branches Of the science, being
particularly rich in Central American
antiquities, several thousand specimens
in number and many of them unique.
Some of these l obtained myself in Cen
trail America, and among the Others is the
famous de Zeltner collection. rich in gold
ornaments, which / secured by purchase.
The specimens from Mexico are also of
greet interest, and the series is represen-
tative one 1t includes the well-Snown
Skilton collection.