IV PREFACE. 



societies fully testify to the great value of the work clone 

 by him during a long and strenuously productive life, and 

 to the loss that science has sustained by his death. To 

 few^ however, will that loss be personally so great as to 

 those who under his direction were working for the Fauna 

 of India series. 



As his successor it will be my endeavour to carry on the 

 work on the lines laid down by him. 



In conclusion I may add that previous to Dr. Blanford's 

 death the sanction of the Secretary of State for India had 

 been accorded to the preparation of the following volumes, 

 in addition to this one on the Rhynchota now published. 

 Three volumes on various groups of Beetles, a second 

 volume on the Butterflies, and a volume on the Land-Shells 

 of India. 



The last-mentioned work had been undertaken by Dr. 

 Blanford himself and a portion of it prepared. The un- 

 finished MS. is now in the hands of Col. Godwin-Austen, 

 who, as Blanford^s intimate friend and co-worker with him 

 on the Mollusca of India, has kindly undertaken to complete 

 the volume. 



Quite lately also sanction has been accorded to the 

 preparation of a volume on the Phytophagous Beetles by 

 Mr. M. Jacoby, the well-known specialist on that group. 



Of these various volumes of the Series, a half-volume on 

 the Longicorn Beetles and the volume on the Butterflies 

 will, it is hoped, be ready for publication in the current 

 year. 



C. T. BINGHAM. 



February 1906. 



