Toda equations for Hurwitz numbers (Q1588359)

The purpose of this paper is to prove that a more general generating function where arbitrary ramifications are allowed over two given points of \( \mathbb{P} ^1\), satisfies an entire hierarchy of PDE's namely the Toda lattice hierarchy of \textit{K. Ueno} and \textit{K. Takasaki} [Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 4, 1-95 (1984; Zbl 0577.58020)]. This proves and generalizes some previous results of Pandharipande.