PREFACE. 



The present work is the second of the series of Man- 

 uals of the Vertebrata of India. The greater portion 

 of it has been printed for above a twelvemonth, but 

 the publication was delayed in the hopes of getting 

 some additional information to be inserted in the Ap- 

 pendix. 



The author trusts that the present Manual will 

 be found equally useful as that on the Birds of India, 

 and he knows that many sportsmen and observers have 

 been anxiously awaiting its appearance. He has been 

 able to give considerable information on the habitat 

 and geographical distribution of many of the animals 

 which was previously but little known. The portion 

 of the work on the Micro-Mammalia of India is still 

 confessedly very imperfect, and contributions of good 

 specimens (in spirits) of Bats, Shrews, Eats and Mice, 

 from aU parts of the country, but especially from the 

 hiLls, sent either to the Museum at Calcutta, or to the 

 British Museum, will be highly acceptable. 



The author trusts that the imperfections of the pre- 

 sent publication will be overlooked in consideration of 



