XXX. 



This paper may rightly begin with a word of respectful exhortation. It is 

 thought that the Dorset County Museum suffers from a not uncommon habit of 

 miscalling it the Dorchester Museum. This may seem a trifle, but it is feared 

 that, like some other small influences, it has no small effect. In a distant part of 

 the county something crops up which deserves to figure in a museum. "Dor- 

 chester is a long way off," says the owner, " there is no reason in giving it to the 

 Dorchester Museum," and it wanders off elsewhere. The members of the Field 

 Club might do a great deal to discredit the misnomer in question. Owing partly, 

 perhaps, to the influence of that same wrong name, the Dorset specimens acquired 

 of late, whether connected with antiquities or natural science, have not been many. 

 The best are of the latter kind, including some good fossils. Mr. Cunnington, to 

 whom the Dorset Museum has been so often indebted, has given several, for 

 instance a fine Ostrea deltoldea from the Coral Bag at Sandsfoot. From 

 Mr. A. Wallis we have received a piece of stone studded with minute shells ; from 

 the Kev. W. K. N. Waugh and the Eev. H. S. Solly three valuable fossils, viz., a 

 fine Lapcdius and an Ammonite retaining the operculum from the former, and 

 the very rare Pleurotomaria cassisiana from the latter. Mr. Prideaux has given 

 a good Echinoderm imbedded in chalk. Fine specimens in the inorganic 

 geological departments have been received from the Hon. Sec. They are very 

 large Selenite crystals from the Oxford clay at Chickerell. In the recent natural 

 history class we have acquired a few specimens. Mr. G. Wallis has given a fine 

 Harelda glaciatis, and Mr. Andrews has lent a Baillon's Crake, believed to be 

 the only Dorset example. From our friend, Mr. M. H. Tilley, the bee master, 

 we have a specimen of the cells of the Mason Bee, and from Mr. Cooper a fine 

 addition to our group of wasps' nests. Major Shephard and Mrs. Hoff gave 

 several specimens of Sphinx convolvuli. We have received a cabinet contain- 

 ing the late Miss Payne's herbarium, in which there are some rarities. On the 

 antiquarian side the record will be deplorably short. Indeed it is almost nil as 

 regards ancient times. Of modern antiques, besides a curious Planisphere, from 

 Captain Acland, we have received several specimens, increasing our group of 

 implements,' &c., recently gone out of use, and bringing near to us the need of a 

 special case for such things. Further additions to this group would be welcome. 

 For instance, an upright churn and a flail would be much in place in the Museum. 

 Some of our acquisitions and the givers may be named as they come. Lace made 

 here about 90 years ago from the late Miss Bishop, per Mrs. G. Symonds; a 

 helmet belonging to the uniform of the Dorset Eangers from the Misses 

 Furmedge ; a quaint jar, found full of sovereigns at Puddlehinton, from 

 Mr. Lovelace ; a rush-light stand lent by Mr. Middleton ; a gold mourning ring, 

 dated 1756, from the late Miss Payne ; a pair of snuffers from Miss Coombs ; and 

 a token of J. Stuckie, Sherborne, from Mr. Clist . Then there are one or two 

 things belonging to the Middle Ages. Mr. Crane has given the remnants of a 

 curious 15th century stone chimney piece which was in the long-vanished 

 rectory of Tolpuddle, and Mr. Warren a Safe Conduct to W. Pires, of Portland, 

 dated HOG. Then, to be perhaps classed as mediaeval, is a jug or handled jar, 



