FRESH-WATER DOLPHINS 343 



The inclusion of this species in the Fresh- water Dolphins is 

 beyond doubt, but its affinities with Inia and Platanista have 

 been made the subject of discussion. 



The Chinese River Dolphin is never seen except in the Tung 

 Ting Lake and around its mouth. A letter quoted in Mr. 

 Miller's paper states : " In winter when the water in the lake 

 is so low that there is scarcely more than the river channel 

 left, they are easily seen and are found in great numbers in 

 bunches of usually three or four, but occasionally of as many 

 as 10 or 12 individuals. They are often seen in shallow water 

 working up the mud in their search for fish. The one I killed 

 had about two quarts of catfish in its stomach . . . the 

 natives say that in the late spring when the lake is rising the 

 dolphins make their way up the small, clear rivers, and that 

 these are their breeding grounds." 



The distinctness of this species from the Chinese White 

 Dolphin, Sotalia sinensis, is mentioned by the author of the 

 original description ; the similarity in the colour of the two 

 species might suggest affinity, but actually in external form 

 and in body structure they are quite widely separated. 



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