ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Ill.—Burges Bequest. 



The iate "William Burges, Esq., a.e.a., who died in April, 1881, by his will bequeathed 

 to the British Museum such specimens of the antiquities m his possession as the authorities 

 of that Museum might wish to select. 



This selection has been made, and includes a number of objects of great value to the 

 Museum, and chiefly of a class ill-represented. 



Among the miscellaneous objects may be noticed a Roman glass bottle with a gold rim ; 

 two Byzantine gold earrings, one of them with enamelled birds ; a crystal sj)oon set in 

 silver gilt; a cinque-cento ring enamelled ; six tablets carved in ivory, chiefly of the 14th 

 century ; five caskets of early date, one of thera Italian, carved in bone with the history 

 of Jason ; four specimens of Saracenic metal work, two of them writing boxes of the 14tli 

 century, inlaid with gold and silver ; and a Chinese bronze stand, also inlaid with gold and 

 silver. 



The most extensive portion of the bequest consists of armour, and especially of helmets. 

 The series of European helmets selected is twenty in number, commencing with a bascinet of 

 the middle of the 14th century ; and several of them formed part of the Meyrick collection. 

 Among other examples of armour may be noticed a half suit believed to have belonged to 

 a king of Poland, and a half suit of scale armour; two very fine engraved breastplates, and 

 specimens of the secret armour known as Jazerine and Brigandine. In the Oriental sec- 

 tion are some fine helmets ; a shirt of mail with passages from the Koran; some curious 

 Tatar helmets and gauntlets ; and an old Japanese suit. 



The whole number of sj^ecimens comprised in Mr, Burges' bequest is one hundred and 

 seventy. The helmets formed part of an exhibition at the Royal Archseological Institute 

 in June, 1880, aud are described with the rest of that exhibition by the Baron de Cosson 

 and the late Mr. Burges in the Archroological Journal. 



IV. — Christy Collection. 



The following progress has been made in arranging and augmenting this collection, which 

 remains at 103, Victoria-street, "Westminster. 



One hundred and thirty-two additional slips have been prepared for the Registration 

 Catalogue, with sketches of the objects. 



The following donations have been received by the Christy Trustees, and by them 

 transferred to the Trustees of the British Museum. 



1. Prehistoric Antiquities of Europe. — A drift implement of quartzite from Broom, in 

 the Valley of the Axe, from Sir Joseph D. Hooker, c.B. 



Neolithic implement of fibrolite from La Roche Arnault, near Le Puy, Haute Loire, 

 France, from the Rev. Edward Alechin, s.J. 



2. Ethnography of Africa. — A small collection of specimens chiefly from the Betsileo 

 country, Madagascar, from A. W. Franks, Esq. 



3. Ethnography of Asia. — A series of weapons, articles of dress, etc., obtained by the 

 donor during a residence in the Andaman Islands ; from Maurice V. Portman, Esq. 



4. Ethnographtf of Oceania and Australasia. — An ulemate (wig), from Viti Levu, 

 Fijian Group, and a hat from New Britain ; from the Baron Anatole von Hiigel. 



A series of articles from the Western Pacific, obtained from the Godeffroy Museum, 

 Hamburg, and presented by A. W. Franks, Esq. 



5. Antiquities and Ethnography of America. — Stone axe found near Stapleton, Staten 

 Island ; from Richard B. Prosser, Esq. 



Mate cup formed of an engraved gourd, discovered at Cuzco, Peru, in 1843, with other 

 remains, by Don Jose Maria Conde, Governor of Pasco. This remarkable object has on 

 it ancient Peruvian designs representing natives hunting monkeys. From the Director 

 of the Royal Gardens, Kew. 



A further collection of objects from British Guiana, including a very large earthenware 

 vessel ; from Everard F. im Thurn, Esq. 



The Trustees of the Christy Collection have purchased, from funds at their disposal, a 

 collection of ancient Mexican pottery ; ethnographical objects from New Ireland ; and 

 several stone implements and two ancient boomerangs from Egypt, which latter are of 

 great interest for comparison with modern weapons of the same kind from other places. 



The Christy Collection remains open on Fridays, by means of tickets, to be obtained at 

 the British Museum. During the past year there have been 558 visitors. 



Augustus PV« Franks. 



0.90. 



