PREFACE. 
v 
We have thought it advisable that there should be only one authority for new 
species, on which account each of the authors has attached his name to a moiety of the 
work; but it must not be imagined that we have worked otherwise than jointly and 
continuously throughout. 
The numbers in brackets which follow the specific names are those originally 
attached to the specimens in Lieut. Colonel Playfair’s collection. We have retained 
them to facilitate the identification of such as have been sent by him to other 
Museums in Europe and India. 
We desire to record our grateful thanks to the Government of Bombay for the 
liberal measure of assistance it has accorded to this work by taking 100 copies. This 
has enabled us to illustrate all the most important species, and for that end to secure 
the valuable services of Mr. Ford, whose ability as a zoological artist is too well known 
to require notice. 
THE AUTHORS. 
London, November 1866. 
