1912.] Introduction. 5 



To the 32nd Sikh Pioneers I am under very great obhgation 

 for the large collections of Reptilia and other animals which they 

 made on my behalf. During the winter season most of the reptiles 

 were in hiding beneath the ground or in roots of trees, and in these 

 situations they were found by the Pioneers when cutting roads 

 along the hill-sides. The extent of the help they gave me may be 

 judged from the fact that while snakes are now represented by 

 twenty-six species, three hitherto unknown and one belonging to 

 an undescribed genus, my own individual efforts only resulted in 

 the acquisition of three common forms. Through the instrumen- 

 tality of the British officers of the regiment and in particular of 

 Capt. the Hon. M. de Courcy each non-commissioned officer on 

 works was provided with a large section of bamboo fitted with a 

 plug and every day a valuable collection of snakes, lizards, frogs, 

 centipedes, scorpions, etc., was obtained. 



Numerous specimens were also contributed by Col. (now 

 Brigadier-General) D. C. F. Macintyre, Capt. A. ly. M. Molesworth, 

 by Capt. J. S. O'Neill, Capt. F. H. Stewart and Capt. R. S. Ken- 

 nedy of the Indian Medical Service, by Capt. H. W. Price and Mr, 

 G. F. T. Oakes. We are indebted to Major Sweet, Capt. B. R. 

 NichoU, Capt. J. Masters and Mr. I. Burn Murdoch for the loan 

 of various mammals and to Dr. J. Falkiner for the loan of a col- 

 lection of birds. 



Opportunity will I hope be found of making fuller individual 

 acknowledgments in the course of publication of the different 

 reports, though it will still be impossible for me to express my 

 thanks in an adequate manner for all the kindness and hospitality 

 I received from officers of different services attached to the ex- 

 pedition. 



I was fortunate in having Mr. R. Hodgart with me as my 

 assistant. Throughout the period during which we were attached 

 to the expedition his energy was unremitting and he spared no 

 efforts to render the work a success. 



Stanley Kemp, 

 June 1st, 1912. O^g. Superintendent, Indian Museum. 



