The Vatican MS. numbered Regina 181, written in 1364 and containing the medical works of Actuarius, has at various parts of it several more or less continuous pieces of tachygraphy that, considering the late date of the MS. and the character of the tachygraphical system itself, are very remarkable. I was made aware of the existence of these specimens of tachygraphy from Signor Enrico Stevenson's recent catalogue of the Queen of Sweden and Pio II. collection (Rome 1888), and on a recent visit to Rome I had photographs taken of two of the principal passages where tachygraphy is employed: these are reproduced here.

The MS. itself is a paper book, measuring 8½ inches by 5, written according to the subscription in 1364: for a fuller description and a list of the contents I may refer to Signor Stevenson. The tachygraphical matter in the book falls into three divisions: first, certain passages in the text, where, departing from his ordinary usage, the scribe suddenly as it were drops into shorthand; secondly, a formal table of tachygraphical and other signs, with their interpretations at the end of the book; and lastly, two notes of considerable length, and of somewhat uncertain meaning, which are written on either side of an empty page between the table of contents and the text.