INTRODUCTION 



TO 



VOLUME I, MEMOIRS OF THE INDIAN MUSEUM. 



As Dr. Hossack's account of the Rats of Calcutta forms the first part in a new 

 series of publications, a few words of explanation as to the aims and scope of this 

 series appear to be necessary. In the first place it should be explained that the com- 

 mencement of the Memoirs of the Indian Museum does not argue any real change 

 of policy on the part of the Museum, for it has long been our custom to issue zoolo- 

 gical monographs based on the collections in the Natural History Section. These 

 monographs (except in a few cases in which other arrangements have already been 

 made) will henceforth form parts of a serial publication, instead of being totally 

 independent of one another. It is not proposed at present to deal in the Memoirs 

 with any branch of science except Zoology and Physical Anthropology, but possibly 

 other aspects of Anthropolog>'^ may be brought later within their scope. Each 

 volume, for which an index and title page will be provided, will consist of four 

 Memoirs. In a few cases separate parts of extensive monographs, such as Colonel 

 Alcock's Catalogue of the Decapod Crustacea and Messrs. Thomson and Henderson's 

 Account of the Alcyonarians, have already been issued; the remaining parts of these 

 will not be incorporated with the Memoirs but will be issued separately. 



As inquiries are still being received at the Museum regarding the future issue of 

 Indian Museum Notes, I take this opportunity to state that the Notes have been incor- 

 porated with the publications of the Agricultural Department of the Government of 

 India. To take the place of the Notes, however, as regards the non-economic aspects 

 of Entomology, and to facilitate the publication of shorter papers on other branches 

 of Zoology, the Trustees have decided to issue a journal of Imperial 8vo. size. This 

 journal will be called Records of the Indian Museum, and will be brought out, so far 

 as possible, in quarterly parts. The first part has just been issued. 



N. ANNANDALE, 



Officiating Superintendent, 



Indian Museum (Natural History Section). 

 Calcutta : 

 June 20th, 1907. 



