XXIV. 



Dorchester origin and also because in the Epistle Dedicatory there is an 

 interesting touch or two of borough history. Secondly, there is a broad- 

 side in memory of Samuel Gould, a bookseller and "character" of 

 Dorchester in the last century. This broadside was given by Mr. Stone, 

 to whom the Museum library has been indebted more than once 

 before. Thirdly, the author, Mr. Keats, has given a copy of "The 

 Writing and Recollection of a Durnovarian." He has always been 

 an enthusiastic musician, and his "recollections" connected with 

 music are very interesting. Lastly, we have to thank Sir R. Edgcumbe 

 for " Family Records," quite a triumph of long and persevering research 

 and of full illustration. The trustees of and subscribers to the Corfe 

 Castle Museum have given the Minute Book of the Purbeck Society. 

 This is very valuable as a record of that active precursor of the Field 

 Club. From Mr. Mansel-Pleydell we have received a copy of the Act 

 of Parliament for re-building Blandford after the great fire there in 1731. 

 The Rev. J. Lewis has given his essay on Great Toller font. We 

 close this list of printings and writings with a very interesting paper. 

 This was given by Mr. Pentin and is a certificate signed by Sir T. Hardy 

 on board H.M.S. Victory. Now follows the last section of 'this report, 

 namely, that relating to Dorset acquisitions in the Museum itself, and 

 firstly those connected with natural history. We give precedence to 

 a small jet black bird killed at Affpuddle and presented by Mr. 

 Kindersley. It has puzzled our local ornithologists, but has been 

 pronounced by the S. Kensington Museum Nat. Hist. Authorities to be 

 a specimen of the S. American Cow-bird, doubtless escaped from a 

 cage. Another series of valuable gifts consists of many moths and 

 butterflies, mostly taken in Dorset. And this leads to a word 

 of gratitude to the Secretary and Mrs. Richardson for their generous 

 bestowal of many specimens for the enrichment of the entomological 

 collection, and also of untiring and most skilful labour in arrang- 

 ing these specimens and others so kindly given by the Treasurer, 

 by Mr. Percy Bright, and by Mr. Forsyth. The Treasurer has 

 presented specimens of Eriophorum lati folium, a scarce cotton-grass 

 and of a common thistle strangely mal-formed. From Mr. Cunnington 

 we have received an egg case of Raia mucronata, the Sting Ray, and 

 also some excellent specimens of Gryyhcea dilatata. Dr. Macdonald has 

 given a fine Ventriculites. This leads to the great event of the year 

 relating to fossils, as regards quantity, not to mention quality. It is the 

 acquisition through gift by the trustees of and subscribers to the Corfe 

 Castle Museum of the fossils collected there. These number several 

 hundreds, are mostly from the Purbeck formation, and some of them are 



