Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Mammalia).djvu/13

Rh Mr. Charles Darwin, Sir J. Hooker, Professor Huxley, Sir J. Lubbock, Prof. W. H. Flower, and by Mr. Sclater himself, and presented to the Secretary of State for India. This memorial recommended the preparation of a series of Handbooks of Indian Zoology and my appointment as Editor. It is scarcely necessary to add that to the recommendation of men so highly respected and so well known in the world of Science the publication of the present 'Fauna of British India' is greatly due, and that Mr. Sclater is entitled to the thanks of all interested in the Zoology of India for the important part he took in the transaction. I can only express a hope that the present series as a whole may be worthy of the distinguisbed support to which, in so great a degree, it owes its origin.

With the publication of this part six out of the seven volumes in which it was originally proposed to describe the Vertebrata of British India have been completed. The remaining volume of Birds will be undertaken at once. I am glad to be able to announce that the 'Fauna of British India' will not be confined to Vertebrata, the preparation of three volumes on Moths by Mr. G. F. Hampson having been commenced.

W. T. BLANFORD.

November 30th, 1891.