•JO ox THE ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTION OF

the probability of their beiiis:;- of native workmanship. Two of them are 4|; inches in (hametcr ; on one is the V^irgin and Child in high relief, umlcr a canopy in gilt metal, the back iiround of red enamel, chargeil with the arms of Wardon Abbey, az. 3 pears or, ; on the other is a crncifix between St. ^lary «ind St. John, who are standing on brackets spi-inging from the foot of the cross : the gronnd of this is of bine enamel, and on it are two croziers and the letters W. C. Both these medallions have a pierced border of gilt metal composed of angels. The third medallion is 4 J inches in diameter ; in the centre is an angel in high relief, issuing from clouds, which are partly in relief and partly represented on the plate by blue and white enamel. He holds before his breast a silver shield, on which is a crozier between the letters W. C. The border is composed of Tudor flowers, four of which pi'oject beyond the others. The letters on these medallions probably indicate the name of the abbot under whose superintendence, or at whose expense, the shrine to wliicli they may have belonged, was executed. The list of the Abbots of Wardon is too imperfect to enable us to identify this personage. The workmanship appears to belong to the lattei- half of the fifteenth century. To a similar school of art and same period must be referred anoth(!r recent acquisition ; a processional cross said to have been found at Glastonbury Abbey. It is of gilt metal with a crucifix between St. jIary and St. John on brackets. Several crosses of a like character have been discovered in varicjus parts of England and Ireland. Another object to be noticed, is a very curious astrolabe presented to the Museum by Mr. Mayer, F.S.A., of Liver- })ool. It is of especial interest as it bears the inscription, Jildhriir nil' frcif (uiiKt (loi/ti)/?'. I :M2. It is covered with Aral^ic iiiiiii(i;ils. .-ind ,is cNidciitly made foi- English lati- tudes. 'J'lic collcciioii (•!' iiisti'umciits lor ascertaining time hv the lieavenly bodies lias been rm-tlici' increased l)y three /•/V//0/7V/ or pocket siui-dials ; one loiiiid in (lie river Crane at Islewortli .Mid |ii-(sentcd by Mr. II. < '. i'idgeitn ; another of Cr'rmaii woikm.'insliij), presenteil liy .Mi'. M. Kolide Hawkins; and a tliinl inad(; by C. Wliitwell, wliicli has been |)in-chase(l. .Aiiii.ii'j (iilirj- ;i((|iii.sitions, tlie ioiicwing should be men- tioned ; — a g«»iird-.^liaped boltlc^ foiind at Newbury, in ' Siiiiiliir t I oiw rii^raviMl m .Jmirn. '.t An-li. .Ahmdc- v. 'J!!.