1000 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETIKG 



our knowledge of the Microlefidoflera of India, and I stould be showing 

 little gratitude for his generous and valuable help towards their study, 

 if I failed to comply with so reasonable a request. 



When in 1905 I commenced a series of papers on the subject in the 

 Journal of the Bombay Nalural History Society, only about 100 species 

 had been authentically recorded from the whole of India, and a large 

 proportion of these were incorrectly classified or otherwise very inade- 

 quately known. The difficulty of collecting and preserving these fragile 

 and delicate insects in good condition in the climate and surroundings 

 of India is great but not insuperable, as has since been proved by the 

 skill and energy of my correspondents, and the backward condition of 

 our knowledge was hard to justify, the Indian species being at that time 

 less known than those of any other considerable geographical area. 

 From Australia I had already classified about 2.500 species, sufficient 

 to give a good idea of the character of the fauna, which is a rich one. 

 If Burma is included with India, I daresay the probable number of 

 species occurring within these regions may be estimated at 10,000. 

 I proceed to indicate how far our acquaintance with these already 

 extends. 



Looking at the subject from a geographical point of view, it appears 

 that even now only a small part of the vast area included has been 

 investigated, and that very inadequately. The southern portion of 

 the peninsula is the best known ; Mr. Fletcher has sent many species 

 from Coimbatore and some from other southern localities ; several 

 collectors have visited the Nilgiris ; Mr. L. Newcome has made consi- 

 derable collections in Coorg, and Mr. R. Maxwell in Kanara. More- 

 over the fauna of this region has much affinity with that of Ceylon, 

 from which I have received copious material, and many species will 

 probably prove to be common to both regions. From Pusa representa- 

 tive collections have been sent by the Imperial Entomologist and his 

 predecessor, but presumably this locality has not an extensive fauna. 

 I obtained a large number of specimens, forming the captures of a 

 year, from a native collector in the Khasis ; this man was an expert 

 collector, but without scientific knowledge. A few species only have 

 been received from other parts of India, including the neighbourhoods 

 of Bombay and Calcutta, and certain points in the Himalayas ; and 

 Dr. Annandale and Mr. Fletcher have contributed a few from Burma. 

 I cannot accurately state the number of species, described and unde- 

 scribed, which I possess at the present time, but estimate it roughly at 

 about 2,300.* 



* The number of descnhed species on my list is 2,42.5.— T. B. F. 



