PREFACE. 



In compiling the present Catalogue my object has been 

 to meet a want which at present blocks the way to the 

 general study of Herpetology in India, and to supply in 

 an accessible and portable form such a condensed descrip- 

 tion of our Indian Reptiles as may enable any one 

 interested in the Fauna of his locality to acquaint him- 

 self with the Reptiles he meets with. Some such work, 

 indeed, as that now offered, is the indispensable precursor 

 of a more complete and exhaustive work, for which, at 

 present, our materials are wholly inadequate ; and the 

 main benefit I anticipate from the present publication is, 

 that it may be the means of conducing to the formation of 

 a large mass of notes, especially such as refer to distribu- 

 tion of species, from men who are at present unable to 

 make trustworthy observations simply from the bulky 

 or inaccessible nature of the books which treat of this 

 division of the animal kingdom. 



The present Catalogue is based on Giinther's Monograph, 

 published by the Ray Society in 1864. But though 

 a great addition has been made to the Indian Reptile 

 Fauna since that period, yet the total number of species 

 in the present Catalogue will not greatly exceed those 

 described by Giinther, from the fact? tjiat considerably 

 more than 100 species (exclusive of Hydrophidae which 

 with Batrachia I do not at present intend to include), 

 enumerated by Giinther, are excluded by me on geogra- 

 phical grounds. 



