vi 



In fact, there is no great object of internal improvement 

 that can be undertaken, either by public or private enterprize 

 in India, to which a scientific knowledge of the productions 

 of the country is not more or less essential ; and many lacs of 

 rupees have been from time to time thrown away in fruitless 

 experiments, which have failed only for want of that descrip- 

 tion of information, which it is the object of the Calcutta 

 Journal of Natural History to elicit. Several instances of this 

 kind have occurred within the last few years, and will conti- 

 nue still to occur until we gradually become better acquaint- 

 ed with the natural products of the country, and the means 

 by which they may be improved. In future, it will be the 

 aim of the Editors to the utmost of their power, to render the 

 work as generally interesting as possible, consistent with its 

 object. It is also their intention to improve the illustrati- 

 ons, so that the nature and peculiarities of every species or 

 at least genus described, may be exhibited by means of draw- 

 ings. 



The present volume will be found to contain a greater 

 number of original drawings than any Journal of the kind in 

 India ever before attempted to furnish. This has been at- 

 tended with considerable increase of expence, but not more 

 than the liberal support the work has met with seems to 

 justify, and it is hoped, the future year will work still greater 

 improvements, particularly in the style of the lithographs. 



Calcutta, January^ 1844. 



