PREFACE. 



THE collection of Mollusca in the* Indian Museum had 

 for its beginning the recent shells which formed a part 

 of the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



These Mollusca, when in the possession of the Asiatic 

 Society, were catalogued in 1860 by Mr. W. Theobald, l and 

 the Catalogue was published by order of the Society. 



In 1866 the Mollusca and other collections generally of 

 the Asiatic Society of Bengal were transferred by an Act of 

 the Legislature to the Government of India, thus constitut- 

 ing the foundation of the Indian Museum. 



Some years after the transfer, the Trustees of the Indian 

 Museum purchased from Mr. Nevill an extensive collection 

 of Mollusca which he had formed before he had entered the 

 service of the Trustees, and to this and the Asiatic Society's 

 collections, many extensive additions have been made by dona- 

 tions, exchanges and purchases, chiefly of Asiatic species. 



A list of the names of the contributors mentioned in 

 this work will be found after this Preface, and among the 

 principal donors of recent years may be mentioned the late 

 Dr. Stoliczka who, besides presenting many species during 

 his life time, bequeathed his entire collection of Mollusca to 

 the Trustees of the Indian Museum. 



Mr. Nevill is indebted to Professor Edward von Martens 

 for much valuable assistance in the identification of species, 

 and the. thanks of the Trustees are also due to Professor 



1 Cat. Recent Shells, Mus. As. Soc , Bengal, Cal. 1860. 



M368628 



