Prof. Eschricht on the Gangetic Dolphin. 163 



correspond entirely as to the outer form and habitat of the ani- 

 mal ; both are accompanied by somewhat crude figures, which, 

 contrary to the descriptions, do not quite agree with each other, 

 but are still adequate to point out the striking peculiarities of the 

 animal in its exterior structure, such as the longitudinal fissure 

 of the spiracle, a form which is unique among the whole series of 

 whales ; the triangular fanshaped breast-fins ; the extraordinary 

 narrowness of the snout, especially as compared with the thick 

 and blunt forehead ; lastly, the very diminutive eye (1'" in an 

 individual measuring Q>^ feet) , Both authors agree in considering 

 it as a new species ; and Lebeck gives it the appropriate name of 

 Delphinus gangeticus. As soon as these two accounts became 

 known to zoologists, the Gangetic Dolphin was introduced into 

 the system ; although it took place only many years after their 

 publication, by various routes and under less significant names. 



George Shaw* describes it in these words : — Narrow-snouted 

 Dolphin. Delphinus rostratus : rostro attenuato. Dolphin with 

 greatly attenuated snout. Known only from the head or bones of 

 the jaws. Supposed to inhabit the Indian Seas. The jaws are 

 extremely narrow in proportion to their length, which is about 

 2 feet ; the teeth are small, not numerous, distant, and shaped 

 somewhat like the molares of quadrupeds. This description is 

 barely adequate to point out the existence of a hitherto un- • 

 known sort of dolphin in the Indian Ocean, but does not give any 

 idea of its essential form or locality. 



Up to 1817 Cuvier was unaware of the two accounts received 

 from India. At least he did not take up LebecVs D. gangeticus, 

 but only quoted Shawns D. rostratusf, which he designated le 

 Dauphin a bee mince ; interpreting, unfortunately, Shaw's '^ In- 

 dian seas " as meaning des mers d'Amerique, whereby his atten- 

 tion was diverted from the Gangetic locality, towards Canada. 

 Duhamel du Monceau J had received from thence some informa- 

 tion, accompanied by a very rough representation of a white 

 dolphin, 12 feet long, with a very short snout and vaulted fore- 

 head, which Cuvier thought answered to Shaw's D. rostratus^, 



* General Zoology or Systematic Natural History, vol. ii. part 2. Mam- 

 malia. London, 1801, p. 514. 



t Le Regne animal distribue d'apres son organisation, tome i. Paris, 

 1817, 8vo, p. 278. 



X Traite general des Peches et Histoire des Poissons qu'elles fournissent. 

 Suite de la seconde partie. Paris, 1782, fol. Tom. iv. sect. x. p. 41, § I. 

 pi. 10. f. 4. 



§ Duhamel had received an entire figure of the animal, but used only 

 the anterior half for his work. Long after Cuvier' s mistake had been cor- 

 rected, Mr. J. E. Gray obtained from M. Blainville a complete copy of the 

 above-mentioned old figure, which he transferred to stone, and consti- 

 tuted into a new species, caUing it Inia canadensis (Zoology of the Yovage 



11* 



