418 On Dr. G anther's ' Reptiles of British India.' 



correctly referred a Batrachian to its proper genus, Pyxicephalus*, 

 which Dr. Gunther, in his Catalogue of Batrachians, referred to 

 a new genus, Sphcerotheca, and subsequently to Tomoptera of 

 Bibron. 



With these exceptions now particularized, I can safely aver, 

 and moreover am able to prove, that the whole of the Reptiles 

 of my Catalogue were referred to their proper genera, or, to 

 speak more correctly, were rightly so referred according to the 

 usual or received nomenclature at the time when they were 

 published. Should Dr. Gunther refuse his assent to this state- 

 ment, it will then be my task (although the onus probandi rests 

 on him) to show in detail that he has made a statement injurious 

 to me, which he cannot justify; but I earnestly hope, for the 

 sake of science, and to promote the good feeling that ought to 

 prevail among all lovers of science, that he will have the good 

 sense and manliness to come forward at once and publicly state 

 that his sweeping and uncalled-for assertion, that throughout my 

 Catalogue I had rarely hit upon the proper generic name, was 

 made without foundation. With regard to Dr. Giinther's other 

 criticisms on the insufficient characters given by me in my 

 Catalogue, I at once acknowledge their force ; but he ought to 

 have considered that I was not writing a description of new 

 species, but only compiling a catalogue chiefly for the use of 

 observers in this country, and, moreover, that the most imper- 

 fect portions (the Ophidians and Batrachians) were compiled, 

 as was stated at the time, under most unfavourable circum- 

 stances, viz. when I was separated unavoidably from my collec- 

 tions (some of which I never again recovered); and the few 

 characters I gave were drawn up from some rough pencil notes 

 attached to my drawings. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



Yours obediently, 



T. C. Jerdon, 

 Camp, Kurnal, Feb. 24, 1865. Surgeon-Major. 



P.S. I have forwarded a copy of this communication to Dr. 

 Gunther, through Dr. J. E. Gray, in order that he may, if he 

 wish to do so, insert his reply in the same number of your 

 Magazine in which this letter will appear t. 



* Pyxicephalus breviceps, apud Gunther, ' Reptiles of British India.' 

 t We are requested by Dr. Gunther to state that he has been compelled, 



by pressure of other matters, to defer for the present his reply to the above 



letter. — Ed. 



