VI 
Murree where hia work recorded in these volumes commenced, on the 10th of June 1873, and 
passed away from us and from all earthly labours on the 19th of June 1874, soon after 
crossing the Dipsang Plateau on his return journey from Central Asia. 
When some months later his collections arrived at Simla, and we realized how strenuously 
he had laboured and how extensively, despite the severe hardships of considerable portions of 
the journey, he had collected, I moved the Government of India to provide funds for the 
publication of some permanent record of these collections, and these funds being most 
liberally conceded, I, in accordance with the last wishes expressed to Sir Douglas I orsyth by 
Dr. Stoliczka, undertook the general editorship of this present work, which was intended to 
embody the available scientific results of that arduous journey, and those indefatigable labours, 
to which there is no doubt that Stoliczka sacrificed his life. 
Accordingly, with the assistance of Messrs. W. T. Blanford and Wood Mason, I divided 
off the collections (except a few groups of insects, for most of which Mr. Mason subsequently 
arranged) between various naturalists who undertook, gratuitously — out of regard for the 
memory of a true brother in science, too early taken from us — the classification and description 
of the specimens pertaining to the branches in which they were respectively experts, each 
being furnished with a copy of the diary to which I have already referred. I am bound to 
add, however, that this diary, though doubtless it would have amply sufficed to recall to 
Stoliczka all he desired to say in regard to each specimen, was too brief, and had been, as a 
rule, all too hurriedly jotted down to prove of much real assistance to the workers. 
The birds alone — this being a branch of natural history with which I was at the time 
fairly conversant — I retained, as Stoliczka had desired, to deal with myself, and I at once 
worked these out, prepared my paper, and sent to England the specimens which I considered 
ought to be figured. But Mr. Sharpe, to whom I entrusted the work, met, it would seem, 
with insuperable difficulties in getting the required plates prepared, and many years elapsed 
before these were all ready. In the meantime, not only had my paper been destroyed along 
with almost all my other ornithological MSS., but I myself had given up ornithology for 
more serious pursuits, and hence it came about that this section of the work, also, passed 
into other and abler hands, its preparation being finally entrusted to Mr. Bowdler Sharpe. 
As it stands, this work is composed as follows : — 
1. Memoir of Stoliczka’ s Life and "Work, by Valentine Ball, C.B., F.R.S. 
Published 1886. 
2. Geology of the countries traversed by the expedition, including observations made by 
Dr. Stoliczka during a previous visit to the Himalayas, edited by W. T. Blanford, 
F.R.S. 
Published 1878. 
3. Syringosph.erid/e, by Professor P. Martin Duncan, M.B., F.R.S. 
Published 1879. 
4. Mammalia, by W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. (Chirortera, by G. E. Dobson, F.R.S.) 
Published. 1879, 
5. Birds, by R. Bowdler Sharpe, LL D., F.L.S. 
Published 1891. 
