The Calendar follows; in which, in one of the winter months, we observe a very puerile imitation of flakes of snow falling over the figures and the landscape below.  The calendar occupies a space of about six inches by four, completely enclosed by a coloured margin.  Then begins a series of the most beautiful ornaments of FLOWERS, FRUITS, INSECTS, &C. for which the illuminators of this period were often eminently distinguished.  These ornaments are almost uniformly introduced in the fore-edges, or right-side margins, of the leaves; although occasionally, but rarely, they encircle the text.  They are from five to six inches in length, or height; having the Latin name of the plant at top, and the French name at the bottom.  Probably these titles were introduced by a later hand.  It is really impossible to describe many of them in terms of adequate praise.  The downy plum is almost bursting with ripeness:  the butterfly’s wings seem to be in tremulous motion, while they dazzle you by their varied lustre:  the hairy insect puts every muscle and fibre into action, as he insinuates himself within the curling of the crisped leaves; while these leaves are sometimes glittering with dew, or coated with the finest down.  The flowers and the vegetables are equally admirable, and equally true to nature.  To particularise would be endless.  Assuredly these efforts of art have no rival—­of their kind. Scripture Subjects.  Saints, Confessors, &c. succeed in regular order, with accompaniments of fruits and flowers, more or less exquisitely executed:—­the whole, a collection of peculiar, and, of its kind, UNRIVALLED ART.  This extraordinary volume measures twelve inches by seven and a half.

HOURS BELONGING TO POPE PAUL III. 8vo.  The portrait of the Pope is at the bottom of the first ornament, which fixes the period of its execution to about the middle of the sixteenth century.  Towards the end the pages are elaborately ornamented in the arabesque manner.  There are some pleasing children:  of that style of art which is seen in the Missal belonging to Sir M.M.  Sykes, of the time of Francis I.[37] The scription is very beautiful.  The volume afterwards belonged to Pius VI., whose arms are worked in tambour on the outside.  It is kept in a case, and is doubtless a fine book.

MISSALS:  numbers 19-4650.  Under this head I shall notice two pretty volumes of the devotional kind; of which the subjects are executed in red, blue, &c.—­and of which the one seems to be a copy of the other.  The borders exhibit a style of art somewhat between that of Julio Clovio and what is seen in the famous Missal just mentioned.

MISSAL OF HENRY IV.  No. 1171.  This book is of the end of the XVIth century.  The ground is gold, with a small brilliant, roman letter for text.  The subjects are executed in a pale chocolate tint, rather capricious than tasteful.  It has been cropt in the binding.  The name and arms of Henry are on the exterior.