IV PREFACE. 



described in a thicker third volume, the cost of which will 

 be proportionately greater, so that the price of the two 

 volumes together will remain unaltered. By this means 

 descriptions of all Indian Passerine birds, which are more 

 numerous than those of all other orders together, and 

 which afford the greatest difficulties in identification, are 

 placed at once in the hands of Indian ornithologists, whilst 

 Mr. Gates' s work is kept distinct from that of any other 

 writer. I can only express my regret that Mr. Gates has 

 been unable to finish the work he has so well begun. 



The present is the second volume of the ' Fauna of British 

 India ' published in the current year, Mr. Boulenger's 

 ( Reptilia and Batrachia' having been issued in August. 

 The only part now wanting to complete the Vertebrata of 

 the Indian Fauna, besides the third volume of Birds, is the 

 second half of the volume containing Mammalia ; and this 

 half -volume, the greater portion of which is written, will, I 

 hope, be completed early in 1891. It is not probable that 

 the Birds can now be finished next year, but I propose to 

 undertake the third volume as soon as the Mammalia are 

 completed. 



W. T. BLANFORD. 



October, 1890. 



