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PREFACE. 
Not because it is complete, not because we could not render it much more complete, but 
because the stimulus given to collectors by our iconography has added such a multitude 
of species to the conchological fauna of British India as to render it impossible to keep 
pace with modern discoveries, is the reason that we have resolved to terminate a publica- 
tion whose anticipated limits have already been exceeded. We never either intended, or 
hoped, to publish an exhaustive work ; our aim was merely to assemble in one book 
species which were dispersed in scores of other volumes. We have shown what has been 
done up to 1873, and thus facilitated the labours of those who may aspire to produce a 
more perfect conchology. It is something to have caused the delineation of types before 
they were lost, forgotten, or destroyed ; and the search for the actual specimens originally 
described by Benson, Pfeiffer, Hutton, Blanford, &c. has consumed both time and money. 
Our best thanks are due to Major Sankey (the executor of our late dear friend W. 
Benson), to Major GodAvin-Austen, Major Hutton, the late Frederic Layard, and last, not 
least, to W. Blanford : their friendly aid has enabled us to rightly determine and illustrate 
many a puzzling species. 
The Editors regret that the figures of some of the more minute shells are not so Avell 
executed as they expected : but lithography is scarcely compatible with sharp definition, 
and to correctly magnify such little objects strains the eyesight to an extent few artists 
will dare to venture. 
It is important to observe that the inclusion of a species in the systematic list which 
folloAVS by no means indicates that the Editors recognise its distinctive merits ; their aim 
