PREFACE TO VOLUME V. 



THIS number of " Indian Museum Notes " is the first to be issued 

 under the editorship of Mr. Lionel de Niceville, who has occupied 

 the position of Entomologist since the 19th January 1901, and who 

 takes the entire responsibility for its contents and their manner of 

 arrangement. 



The first three volumes of "Indian Museum Notes " were planned 

 and executed by Mr. E. C. Cotes, who was ab e to devote most of 

 his official hours to the new undertaking. When Mr. Cotes left the 

 Museum the duties of Editor devolved upon the Superintendent, 

 who could, of course, spare only a small portion of his time to 

 work which, though in itself of high importance, must always take 

 a secondary place in the economy of a museum intended for the 

 general public ; so that the fourth volume, which was edited by 

 the Superintendent, may quite frankly be confessed to be inferior 

 to its predecessors in compass and ambition. 



However, now that an acknowledged specialist, such as Mr. de 

 Niceville,* holding a position which corresponds with that of State 

 Entomologist, has succeeded to the editorship of " Indian Museum 

 Notes/' it is hoped that this publication will take its proper place as 

 a Journal of Economic Entomology, wherein shall be found not only 

 illustrated records of the life-histories of all the insects that affect, 

 whether for ill or good, the various agricultural industries of the 

 country, but also a compendium of the means by which the hurtful 

 species may be brought under some control and their ravages 

 restricted. 



Such a consummation, however, is beyond the powers of a single 

 man however experienced and however energetic : it can only be 

 attained by the sustained co-operation of planters and district 

 officials throughout the country. But this co-operation must be 

 intelligent and real. For instance, desultory consignments of dead 

 caterpillars and grubs are, at present, of no help to us. If living 

 caterpillars cannot be sent, then some of them should be kept in 



* Since this note was printed, we have had to lament the death of Mr. de Niceville. He 

 died on the 3rd December 1901, of fever contracted in the Darjeeling Terai, where he had 

 gone to study the life history of the mosquito-blight. Dying practically in harness, with 

 much enduring good work accomplished, it may be said of him, as of Tellus the Athenian, 

 " Ts\etlT>J TOU (3iOU Xu[J.'ffpOTUTYj sntyevtTQ.' 



