transition from one language into another may be thoroughly explained. A similar search for lost dialects among the Dravidian idioms will be of great advantage in settling many of the problems of Dravidian philology. But before such a thing is undertaken, it is necessary to take stock of and record the existing dialects. An attempt in this direction has been made by Dr. Grierson in his "Linguistic Survey of India" Vol IV, but it remains only an attempt A more extensive survey is required for this purpose. Caldwell recognized the importance of such a study He said, "A comparison of all the dialects that exist will be found to be our best and safest guide to the knowledge of the primitive speech from which the various existing dialects have diverged; and not only the Shen-Tamil, but every existing dialect, even the rudest, will be found to contribute its quota of help to-
