183 



PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, 

 BURMA AND CEYLON. 



In the last number of the Journal we reported that the Survey 

 oollectors were in Kathiawar and Mysore where good collections 

 were being made. Mr. Crump, who went to Kathiawar in October, 

 is still there and has collected at Junagadh, Keshod, Verawal, 

 Tala, Sasan, Kudia, Rajkot, Dhrangadhra, and at the present 

 moment at Wadhwan, from where he probabh^ will make a move 

 to Guzerat. He has made a fine collection of the Mammals 

 of the District, and up-to-date three consignments have been 

 sent home containing over 800 specimens. Mr. Shortridge, when 

 we last wrote, was finishing off Mysore and was in camp at 

 Sivisamudrum. From there he proceeded to Mercara in Coorg, 

 and Avhile we write is still in that Province and has obtained or 

 sent in about 800 specimens. 



The specimens at present being taken by him are of special 

 interest as he is just on the border line of some of the South 

 India species. From the specimens sent in and his letters we 

 learn that he has obtained a number of species which have not 

 so far been represented in the Survey. 



As the rate of progress of the Surve}^ is slower than was at 

 first expected, owing to the thoroughness with which the collectors 

 work each district, it has been decided to get out a third man. 

 To do this a further sum of money is required which is estimated 

 at Rs. 20,000, and of that sum Rs. 13,000 having been promised, it 

 was decided to engage a third collector. Accordingly, on the 

 recommendation of Mr. Oldfield Thomas, Major Mayor has been 

 •engaged and is expected to arrive here in the first week in March. 

 Mr. Shortridge, having a greater experience of Eastern countries 

 than either of the other two collectors, it has been decided to 

 move him to Burma, and we hope to send him there in March. 

 He will begin in the South and gradually work his way North, 

 ultimately we hope ending up in Assam. While working out 

 Mr. Shortridge's last collections, great difficulty was experienced 

 from the want of Ceylon specimens, since in the Synonomy of 

 South Indian Mammals are many species described by Kelaart, 

 Blyth and others from Ceylon, of which either no or very poor 

 specimens are in existence. It was therefore thought advisable, 

 before doing any further collecting in South India, to move the 

 collector from there to Ceylon ; and accordingly, as Mr. Shortridge 

 is going to Burma, Major Mayor is taking his place and going to 

 Ceylon. With the co-operation of the Colombo Museum and 

 members of the Society resident there, it is hoped to make a 

 thoroughly representative collection of Ceylon Mammals. 



Arrangements are being made for the distribution of a large 



