PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



THE receipt of a large number of objects since the com- 

 pilation of the Second Edition has rendered necessary the 

 publication of a Third Edition, to afford a complete record 

 of the collection for future reference. Every endeavour 

 has been made to ensure its correctness. Slips from the 

 former edition have been sent, wherever practicable, to the 

 several contributors for their corrections, in order that all 

 errors might, as far as possible, be eliminated. 



Although a considerable amount of re-arrangement has 

 been found necessary, it has been thought advisable to 

 retain the numbers given to the objects in the former 

 edition, as those numbers have already been quoted in the 

 Handbook and other publications. 



This edition has been revised and passed through the 

 press by Mr. A. T. Atchison, to whom the thanks of my 

 Lords are due for the great care and trouble he has bestowed 

 upon it. 



South Kensington Museum, 

 May 1877. 



