It has unfortunately happened, from the careless indications of the older autho- 

 rities, that many insects inhabiting the West Indies have been given as natives of 

 Bast India ; and hence it has happened that Donovan, having no means of ascertain- 

 ing the true locality of various species, introduced into the present work several West 

 Indian insects. With these exceptions, the present work is intended to illustrate 

 " the Entomological productions of a country for which we ought to cherish the 

 liveliest and deepest interest, as being connected intimately with the prosperity, the 

 dignity, and the honour of the British Empire; in a word, of British India" em- 

 bracing also illustrations of those species which inhabit every other part of that vast 

 continent, as well as the islands situated in the Indian Seas. 



In respect, therefore, both to the circumstance of this great territory being pecu- 

 liarly confided to our care, and more especially to the remarkable character of its 

 natural productions, the investigation of its Entomological treasures becomes the 

 especial province of the English entomologist. 



Thus, whilst our museums teem with undescribed insects from India, collected by 

 General Hardwicke, Colonel Sykes, Colonel Whithill, Captain Smee, Messrs. Saunders, 

 Royle, Downes, &c. &c, Dr. Perty, writing in 1831, observes in his " Observationes 

 nonnulla? in Coleoptera India? Orientalis," — " Pra?serthn tempore novissimo in Gallia? 

 et Germania? museis, communicatione prop in qua cum ilia regione deficiente, India? 

 orientalis Coleoptera rarius inveniuntur." 



In order to shew the peculiar character of Indian Entomology to its full extent, a 

 far greater space would be required than can here be possibly given to it. A few 

 remarks will not, however, be out of place. 



From its peculiar situation, as the great intermediate southern peninsula of Asia, 

 it may be easily conceived, not only that India comprises various types of form peculiar 

 to itself, but that it also borrows portions of those found in the Arabian and Siamese 

 peninsula?; the former of which comprises, of course, a greater portion of forms 



