INTRODUCTION. 213 



have wished, but only those who have entered into such 

 questions know the amount of time which must be given 

 to each species before its synonomy can be accurately 

 determined. For the determinations of many species of 

 birds I am indebted to the aid of Messrs. Jules Verreaux, 

 G. E. Gray, Lord "Walden, Messrs. Gurney, Tristram, 

 Harting, E. B. Sharpe, Cabanis, and especially to Dr. 

 Finsch, to whose MS. list and notes^ of the birds col- 

 lected by my friend Mr. Jesse I have had access through 

 the kindness of Dr. Sclater. For the identification of 

 the reptiles and of the two species of fish brought back 

 by me, my thanks are due to Dr. Gtinther. For aid 

 and information in determining the mollusca, I am 

 under obligations to Messrs. G, NeviU, Hanley, and 

 H. Adams. 



I much regret that I am unable at present to furnish 

 a detailed list of the invertebrata collected, and that of the 

 mollusca at least, to which I have devoted much time, I 

 cannot give as full an account as of the vertebrata. But 

 the leave which has been most liberally granted to me 

 by the Government of India for the purpose of preparing 

 this work, together with an extension sanctioned by the 

 Secretary of State for India, being at an end, I find 

 that the time has not sufficed for that study of the very 

 extensive and confused literature of the subject which 

 alone would enable me to do it justice. I have conse- 

 quently been compelled to limit myself to the appended 

 list. 



1 This list will appear in the Transactions of the Zoological Society of 

 London. 



