INTRODUCTION. 
XV 
including the chief part of the Strozzi collection, belongs to the 
department of Greek and Roman antiquities, and is placed on view, 
with other gems and with gold and silver ornaments, in the room 
adjoining the department of Coins. 
The original conception of the Museum as the combination of a 
library with works of classical art and specimens of natural history 
for a long time almost excluded the important, and, to the general 
visitor, perhaps more interesting branch of Ethnographical and Medi- Ethn 
seval antiquities, though this was from the beginning partly represented phical col- 
by a portion of the Sloane museum. But, though of late growth, this iec ::0DS - 
department has rapidly developed itself, and is destined to form a Sloane. 
conspicuous division of the Museum. The warlike weapons, the 
articles of dress and ornament, and other objects from the South Sea 
Islands, now no longer to be obtained, which had been derived from 
Captain Cook's explorations, until recently formed the priucipal repre- Cook, 
sentatives of the ethnographical section. But the addition of the 
prehistoric and general collection of Henry Christy, presented by Christy, 
his trustees to the nation in 1865, not as yet, however, placed in the 
Museum galleries, but still preserved in what was the private residence 
of the collector, raises it to a first importance. 
The Mediaeval section has been greatly assisted by donations ; ; 
and bequests — the bequests of Mr. Felix Slade, in 18G8, chiefly coll 
of glass ; of Mr. John Henderson, in 1878, of rare pottery,' oriental Slade. 
arms, &c. ; and the gift of Major-General Meyrick. in the same Hend 
year, of oriental armour and military weapons, with other objects. M • 
Very many single specimens of Majolica, and antiquities of all descrip- 
tions, together with an extensive collection of oriental porcelain, 
have been from time to time presented by the present Keeper 
of the department, Mr. A. W. Franks, to whose friendly influence, Franks, 
moreover, the Christy, Slade, and Henderson bequests are to be 
attributed. Among the principal purchases are those at the Bernal sale 
in 1855, for which a parliamentary grant of £1',000 was made ; and, in 
1856, of the carved ivories collected by Mr. W. Maskell. A collection British 
of British Antiquities was commenced in 1851. It comprises ill us- Antiquities 
trations of the early history of the British Islands through its various 
phases of Early British, Anglo-Roman, and Anglo-Saxon. 
The Natural History collections have also been of late growth — Natural 
though now developed to magnificent proportions. The Zoological History 
objects in the Sloane Museum were few in number. Col. George collectlona - 
Montagu's Ornithological collection was added to them by purchase in 
1816 ; but it was only in the year 1837, after Major- General Hard- 
wickes collection of Indian animals of all classes (bequeathed in 1835) Zoology, 
had been received, that a sufficiently large nucleus for a Zoological 
Department was formed. The collections in their present propor- 
tions were mainly formed under the second keeper. Dr. John Edward 
Gray, who held his office from 1840 to 1871. During that period 
were added the Mammals and Birds brought together by Mr. B. H. 
Hodgson during his long residence in Nepal (1S43) ; the collection 
of fishes of W. Yarrell ; the collections made during the Antarctic 
