PREFATORY NOTE 



TO Volume XIV of 



THE 



RECORDS OF THE INDIAN MUSEUM. 



THE collections and observations on which this volume of the 

 Records of the Indian Museum, is based were made in February 

 and March 1917, by Dr. F. H. Gravely and myself. I have to thank 

 him for much assistance in the field and since we returned to Calcutta. 

 I am also greatly indebted to Mr. C. E. Browne, I.S.O., Pohtical 

 Adviser, Yawnghwe, who did his utmost to further the objects of our 

 tour. I have to thank Mr. G. C. B. StirUng, C.I.E., Superintendent of 

 the Southern Shan States, for valuable advice. 



There is one point in connection with the Inle Lake to which I would 

 direct the attention of naturalists and others. It is the extraordinarily 

 favourable site for biological investigation of many kinds that the lake 

 affords. Not only are almost unique opportunities for the study of 

 variation in aquatic molluscs, recent and fossil, to be found in the 

 neighbourhood and many peculiar species and even genera to be dis- 

 covered, but the water of the lake is so clear that it is possible to 

 watch the fish and other animals under natural conditions ; the climate 

 is good, the place, even now, not inaccessible, being within forty miles 

 of the railway by motor. The people are both interested and wilHng 

 to assist — a state of affairs not to be found in all parts of the Indian 

 Empire. A small laboratory built out in the lake would not be 

 expensive ; it would afford facihties not easily to be bettered for both 

 zoological and botanical work, and I believe that more good would 

 be done to Indian research and Indian practical science by the 

 foundation of a laboratory of the kind than by a great deal of so-called 

 economic work. 



The illustrations for this volume have been prepared mainly by the 

 artists attached to the Zoological Survey of India, Babu A. C. Chow- 

 dhary, Babu S. C. Mondul and Babu D.N. Bagchi. The photographs 

 of fishing boats, etc., in the Shan States were taken by Dr. Gravely. 



N. ANNANDALE, 



Director, 

 Zoological Survey of India. 



