PREFACE. 



Although the first of the series of books containing 

 descriptions of the Invertebrata belonging to the Fauna of 

 British India appeared in 1892, up to the present time only 

 six parts have been published. These are the four volumes 

 of Moths, by Sir G. F. Hampson, issued in 1892, 1894-, 

 1895, and 1896 respectively ; one of Hymenoptera by Colonel 

 C. T. Bingham, which appeared in 1897 ; and a small or 

 half volume of Arachnida by Mr. R. I, Pocock, published 

 in 1900. The eight volumes of Vertebrata, which were 

 issued in theyears]1888-1898, are a part of the same general 

 ■^'ork. 



The slow progress hitherto made with the Indian Inver- 

 tebrata has been caused by the difficulty of obtaining the 

 assistance of authors who, besides possessing the necessary 

 zoological knowledge and an acquaintance with the Indian 

 fauna, are able to give the time required for the study and 

 description of all Indian forms belonging to a particular 

 group, and who have also access to the principal collections 

 and to good zoological libraries. 



There is at the present time a fair prospect that the Avork 



will advance more quickly than has been the case during the 



last ten years. The volume now issued contains the first 



part of the Hhynchota or Hemiptera, by Mr. W. L. Distant, 



who has for many years devoted himself to the collection 



^nd study of this large and important order of insects, on 



a 2 



