268 A BOOK OF WHALES 



The most remarkable species of the genus is the 

 supposed vegetarian Solatia teiiszei, from Cameroon 

 river, West Africa. 



Sotalia sinensis is in colour milky white, with 

 pinkish fins. Teeth, 32. Vertebrae: D. 12; L. 10 ; 

 Ca. 22 = 51. 



This species, from the harbour of Amoy and the 

 Canton river, was originally mentioned by Osbeck, 

 a pupil of Linnaeus, who travelled to China in a 

 merchant vessel in 1751. Its osteology has been 

 fully described by Sir William Flower in the memoir 

 cited below.* As neither Osbeck, the discoverer, nor 

 F. Cuvier, nor Desmarest at all described the species, 

 its specific name should be attributed to Flower. 

 Osbeck, indeed, "not understanding," as Cuvier 

 observed, "the principles of his master, and attaching 

 himself exclusively, as did many others, to increasing 

 the catalogue which Linnaeus had published . . . simply 

 defined this dolphin : like the common dolphin, but 

 entirely of a bright white." It is not, therefore, 

 surprising that F. Cuvier included this form among 

 the dolphins " dont 1'existence comme espece est 

 douteuse." 



Sotalia plumbed^ of Cuvier,t has a colour of uniform 

 plumbeous grey, white on lower jaw. Teeth, 37-39. 



This species is one of the marine forms, coming 



* Trans. Zool. Soc., vii. (1870), p. 151. 

 t Rcgne Ani/n., 2nd ed., 1829, p. 288. 



