1841.] Asiatic Society. 37 



1 10. In connexion with these specific instructions, we deem it expedient to add a few 

 general explanatory remarks, the object of which is to secure to our Museum in 

 England, with every proper degree of economy respecting freight and packing expen- 

 ses, the most valuable and interesting results of scientific Deputations and Missions on 

 behalf of Government ; we therefore repeat the recommendation, that on the return of 

 any Mission to Calcutta the naturalist who may have made any collection, or a proper 

 person to be appointed by you, be employed to prepare a single specimen, well 

 preserved, of the more common Mammalia and Birds, such as are well known and des- 

 cribed ; of those that are rare, and especially of the newly discovered ones, several indi- 

 viduals. To afford the naturalist some assistance in this selection, we will supply a 

 simple list of the present contents of our Museum as far as regards the Mammalia 

 and Birds. By the plan thus recommended we shall become acquainted with the 

 zoological productions of regions newly visited, and thus obtain materials for " Local 

 Faunas," of which several instructive series already exist in our Museum. Of all Ento- 

 mological collections we require that the entire result of any Deputation on behalf of 

 Government be forwarded to our Museum, since these cannot be preserved in India 

 under the disadvantages of imperfect cabinets, moisture, and general destructive 

 effects of the climate ; and being comprised in smaller space, their transmission is 

 not expensive. These instructions will apply to all public collections made pre- 

 vious to the Mission of Dr. Helfer to Tenasserim, should any such be still detained 

 in the hands of individuals, or remain deposited in the Botanic Garden of Calcutta, 

 or in charge of the Asiatic Society. 



' We are, &c. 



* London. (Signed) W. B. Bayley, 



* 16th September, 1840. „ George Lyall, 



„ W. ASTELL, 



,, H. Lindsay, 



„ j. l. lushington, 



,, John Masterman, 



J. W. Hogg, 



„ J. Thornhill, 



,, N. B. Edmonstone, 



,, R. Campbell, 



,, W. Wigram, 



„ John Shepherd, 



j, F. Warden. 



(True Copy,) G. A. Bushby, 



' Secretary to Government of India.' 



