The manuscript contains the prologue and seven books, incipit `Quo]niam quidem ut in rethori[cis` (‘Catalogue of Incipits of Medieval Scientific Writings in Latin’, column 1898), with a full marginal gloss (incipit `Istud opus distinguitur in vii volumina`) and occasional interlinear glosses. At the end (folio 99) are notes, 14th century, on the treatment of hair-loss and on rapacious fish (this was originally the second leaf of a bifolium; of the first, probably blank, only a stub remains), and (folio 100) two leaves (turned sideways and folded; the lower half of the first pasted down, the second cut drastically) from a hymnal, 14th century (three incipits can be seen: `[T]e decet ymnus et melos`, `Melos deo leticiam laude`, `[V]eritas, equitas et largitas in carcere`, the last occurring twice; none is in Chevalier).

The manuscript is written by two hands, changing on folio 61; the first is more regular. There were originally large red and blue calligraphic initials at the beginning of each book; those on folios 1, 1 verso, 17, 27 and 40 verso have been cut out, those on folios 55, 72 and 82 verso remain. There are smaller initials, alternately red and blue with tracery in the other colour, at each section. Headings are in red.