vi INTRODUCTION. 
African and Indian forms. Unless we take the wide area 
indicated above, we shall never be able thoroughly to eluci- 
date the distribution of the different genera and species, and 
how they overlap the confines of the Oriental, Palearctic, 
African, and Malayan Regions. 
A great want in India at present is that of good text-books 
on the Natural History of the country for the use of Euro- 
pean and native students. The Vertebrata have received 
attention, and many able works have been written on some 
classes: all these, however, are not brought up to our present 
knowledge. But nothing has ever been attempted among 
the vast array of the Invertebrata; and I only hope that the 
small additional labour I bestow on one group, the Mollusca, 
will hereafter lead up to such Handbooks being published ; 
but I fear nothing can be expected without some Government 
assistance, such as was once afforded to Dr. T. C. Jerdon to 
bring out the ‘ Birds of India.’ 
H. H. GODWIN-AUSTEN. 
