158 DELPHINID/E. 



144. Platanista gangetica. 



Delphinus apvid Lebeck. — Roxburgh, Asiat. Researclies, VII. pi. 5. 



Blyth, Cat. 286. — D. rostratus, Shaw. — Figd. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 



1852, pi. v., &c. — Hardwicke, III. Ind. Zool. fig. — Susd, Sons Susd, H. 

 — Siisiok or Sishitk, Bengal. — Sisumar, Sanscr. 



The Gangetic Porpoise. 



Bescr. — Teeth 28 on each side, 29 below, total 114 : one account gives 

 120. Spiracle linear ; aperture of ears small, semi-lunar ; eye excessively 

 minute, rudimentary, of a dark plumbous colour ; when old, with some 

 lighter spots here and there ; shining pearl-gray when dry. 



Length of one, 6| feet ; paddle 9 inches by 7 ; tail 14 ; eye 1 to 1^- line 

 in diameter. One 6 feet long had the rostrum 17| inches long from the 

 gape ; whilst another, 7 feet long, had the rostrum only 13|- inches. Both 

 these are believed to be females ; and Mr. Blyth, Cat. Mammalia, p. 92, 

 note, states that " certain disci^epancies of proportion which I had sus- 

 pected to indicate sexual diversity may yet prove to be of specifical 

 importance." 



This remarkable porpoise is found in the Ganges and its larger tribu- 

 taries, Jumna, Gogra, &c., up nearly to the hills, most abundant perhaps 

 in the middle portion or lower third ; also in the Berampooter. I am 

 not aware of it being found in the Nerbiidda, or in any of the large rivers 

 of the South of India. A nearly allied species from the Indus and its 

 tributaries has been discriminated by Blyth, The Gangetic porpoise is 

 very abundant in some localities ; large shoals of them may be seen 

 sporting near most of the large towns on the Ganges, rising to the 

 surface to take an inspiration, and dipping down again in a way that is 

 popularly! called rolling, and gives an impression of their back being 

 much rounded. I have always found this dolphin most abundant at the 

 junction of rivers with the main body of the Ganges, as it is here that 

 fishes also abound most. I do not think that it ever goes out to sea, as 

 conjectured in Erichson's paper, on Dr. Cantor's authority. It feeds on 

 fishes chiefly, also on Crustacea, molluscs (cuttle-fish), &c. In one case 

 recorded, some gi-ains of paddy and some small shells alone were found 

 in the stomach ; but I should imagine that these came from some bird 

 or animal which the porpoise had j)icked up. They are rarely taken by 

 fishermen. Two, a male and a female, are recorded by INTcTA'lland, to have 



