In concluding these introduotoiy remarks to a volume which has greatly
exceeded my original intention regarding its scope, I emhraoe the opportunity to
reoord m y thanks to Hr. Murie for much valuable assistance accorded to me in
its progress through the press. During my absence from Europe, he undertook the
supervision of the drawing, printing and colouring of the plates which illustrate
this volume; and moreover I had the advantage of his opinion and advice in some
anatomical details, and in the identification of certain species. To the artist
Mr. Berjcau, who has faithfully reproduced the anatomical features of the objects
described and the distinctive characters of the species represented, my thanks are
also due.
I am specially indebted to Dr. Dobson for having undertakien the description
of the Ckir&ptera.
The identifications of the birds were verified by Mr. It. Bowdler Sharpe, who
has carefully worked out the literature.
To Dr. Günther and Mr. Francis Day I am obliged for their aid in identifying
the few fish obtained; and more especially to the latter Ichthyologist, who favoured
me w ith a list of the fish collected on the First Expedition, and undertook the
description of certain species.
I have also the pleasure to express my thanks to Mr. W. T. Blanford, who
described the new species of Mollusca collected on the First Expedition; and to
Mr. G. Nevill for the account of all the species of this group which were brought
together on the two Expeditions.
In the list and description of certain insects, I am particularly indebted to
Mr. Frederick Moore; whilst I have also to acknowledge the assistance of Mr.
Frederick Smith and Mr. Maclachlan in the description of others. The late
Mr. W. S. Atkinson and the late Mr. Francis Walker identified and described the
new Bpecies of those groups, to which they had specially devoted their attention.
My thanks are due to Mr. J . Wood-Mason for having worked out the Crustacea,
an account of which originally appeared in the Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal.
I acknowledge with pleasure my indebtedness to Professor A. C. Brown
for the opportunity of figuring in this work a series of the ear-labyrinth of various
Cetacean genera, taken from casts made by himself.
To Professors Günther, Flower, Turner, Schlegel, A. M.-Edwards, and Paul
Gervais, I am under .great obligations for the facilities they afforded me in
examining the collections under their individual charge; and to Professor Peters for
his advice regarding certain species described in this work.
Among others who gave me the benefit of their assistance, I am under obligation
to Lieutenant-Colonel JEf. H. Godwin-Austen for the plate of Rhizomys ery-
throgenys, reproduced from a sketch made by him from the living animal.
In conclusion, I must tender my thanks to the Trustees of the Indian Museum
for permission to use for the illustration of this work many original drawings in
their possession.
C a l c u t t a ;
The 21st December 1878. )