viii AUTHOR S PREFACE. 



retained for the male, which takes precedence of the female, 

 and a new name would have to be found for the latter. 



It has always been my endeavour to describe the species 

 and not merely the type specimens, as is too often done. 



In proposing the term " neotype " (or " new " type) it may 

 be that an original suggestion is being made, as I am not 

 aware that it has previously been proposed. It is intended 

 for use when the original type is lost and a new one is set up, 

 either from amongst the original cotypes or otherwise ; and 

 selected either by the author of the species or by a competent 

 specialist. If selected from cotypes or chosen by the author 

 of the species from other specimens, a neotype should 

 practically be of equal value with the original type ; but a 

 neotype set up by any other person than the author might 

 by some entomologists be ranked as of rather less value. 

 The only occasion when it has been necessary in this work 

 to employ the word is in the case of Simulium indicum, 

 Becher, where I have selected one of the original specimens 

 from which the description was drawn up, to represent the 

 type of the species. 



There still remains a limited residuum of small, obscure, 

 or mutilated specimens of TIPULIDJE and MYCETOPHILID.E, 

 which from their uncertain specific distinctness or un- 

 satisfactory condition have not been referred to in these pages. 

 These may be worked out later on with further material. 



In conclusion it is only necessary to say that every care 

 has been given to make the present work as complete as 

 possible ; and if I am honoured with the preparation of any 

 further volumes, I would express the hope that they may be 

 written in Europe, since, to any one possessed of nerves, the 

 inconveniences and irritations of India render scientific work 

 exceedingly difficult. 



E. BHUNETTI. 



Calcutta, December 1911. 



