*'L^ENVOI" 221 



short account of my personal connection with the 

 Investigator without a word of acknowledgement to 

 that old and honourable service — the Indian Medical 

 Service — which has given me so many opportunities of 

 carrying on the fascinating study of zoology without 

 depriving me of any of the rights and privileges of 

 my own proper profession. 



It is said that, owing to the multiplication of 

 returns and reports and the consequent increase of 

 quill-driving and dry office-work, and owing also to 

 the fact that while the cost of living has become 

 doubled the sterling rates of pay have, by reason of 

 the diminished value of the rupee, decreased, the 

 service is not what it was : that neither for the man 

 who purposes to lay up for himself the corruptible 

 treasures of earth, nor for the clear spirit who merely 

 desires a fair amount of leisure in order to strictly 

 meditate the thankless Muse, is the service of to-day 

 comparable to the service of the palmy days of 

 Buchanan- Hamilton, Cantor, Carter, Day, Falconer, 

 Fayrer, Jerdon, M'Clelland, Patrick Russell, Spilsbury, 

 G. C. Wallich, and other zoological worthies of endur- 

 ing reputation. Yet to a young medical man of 

 scientific tastes the Indian Medical Service still affords 

 both material and opportunities for scientific research 

 such as, I believe, he will not find in any other part 

 of the world, unless he be possessed of considerable 

 private means. 



