Vlll TO THE READER. 





My excellent and lamented friend, the late CHARLES 

 KONIG, Esq., who for nearly half a century presided 

 over this department of the National Collection, and 

 whose scientific friendship I had the privilege of enjoy- 

 ing from my early years, looked forward with much 

 pleasure to my completion of a task which I should 

 never have attempted, had he not assured me that 

 neither himself nor any other officer of the Museum 

 would undertake it. His sudden death has deprived 

 me of the gratification of inscribing my labours to one 

 so capable of appreciating them, and I can now only 

 offer this unavailing, but sincere tribute of respect to 

 his memory. 



In extenuation of any errors or omissions, I would 

 beg to remind the Courteous Reader that the Author is 

 unconnected with the British Museum, and that this 

 volume, like its predecessors, has been composed during 

 the brief and uncertain intervals of arduous professional 

 duties. 



G. A. M. 



19, CHESTER SQUARE, 

 Oct. 11, 1851. 



