266 Memoirs of the Indian Museum. [Voiv. Ill, 



Passalidae, which does not include an attempt to deal with the s5monymy of Kuwert's 

 multiplicity of names, would be of little value, since for most species he gives only a 

 single record ; but his descriptions are so inadequate that no synonymy drawn up — 

 as this is — without reference to a complete set of his types is likely to be wholly free 

 from error. As, however, the large series of specimens that I have been able to 

 examine, especially of the genera Episphenus , Aceraius and Leptaulax ^ besides showing 

 how unexpectedly variable in size, and in some respects also in structure, certain 

 species of these genera may be, have given me an exceptionally good opportunity of 

 acquainting myself with the range of variation which individual species normally 

 exhibit, I have ventured to apply the knowledge thus acquired to the synonymy of 

 species which I have not seen. It should be noted that the collection in the Königliches 

 Zoologisches Museum in Berlin shows that Kuwert was often himself unable to recog- 

 nize his species a second time, and has sometimes applied the same name to quite 

 distinct species, as well as describing specimens of a single species under a number 

 of different names. An examination of Kuwert's cotypes, such as I have made in' a 

 number of instances, is not, therefore, so safe a guide in dealing with his synonymy 

 as it ought to be. 



I have tried to include in this part of the paper every published reference to 

 every described species of every genus at present known from the Oriental Region 

 together with China and Japan. This has involved the inclusion of many species with 

 which I am not directly acquainted. Consequently the completeness of the synonymy 

 indicated probably varies considerably in different genera. The names of genera and 

 species which I have not myself examined are marked with an asterisk, as also are 

 references to works which I have not been able to consult. References to works which 

 do not contain descriptions or original notes on the particular species mentioned are 

 enclosed in brackets— references to many of the new species in Kuwert's catalogue of 

 1891 are included among these as many of the new names there published were nomina 

 nuda, and remained such till the publication of his dichotomous tables in 1896-1898. 

 The word " part " in square brackets in such cases indicates that two or more distinct 

 species have been included in the author's synonymy; but when used in connection 

 with a published description it implies that two or more species have been confused 

 by the author himself when drawing up his description, no notice being taken of his 

 synonymy. Apart from this, square brackets always indicate that a species is not 

 known from the Oriental Region, China or Japan. A cross (f) in front of a specific 

 name, implies that I have seen specimens to which this name has been applied by the 

 author mentioned in the reference accompanying the name so marked. 



The names of forms which I regard as distinct varieties or sub-species are 

 included in the synonymy of the species to which I consider them to belong, as at 

 present any attempt to recognize them separately could only lead to confusion. 

 All Passalids recorded from '' Sikkim " belong to species found in " British Sikkim ' ' , 

 which is now better known as the "Darjeeling District" ; that term is employed 

 throughout this list in place of the term "Sikkim." And it has been found con- 

 venient to group together all localities in the Eastern Himalayas and their foothills 



