PHOC^NA. 575 



Delphinus melas, Temm. Faun. Jap.. Mam. Mar. p. 14, pis. xxv, 



xxvi, 1847 (nee Traill, 1809). 



Delphinapterus molagan, Owen, Tr. Z. 8. vi, p. 24 (1866). 

 Neomeris kurrachiensis, Murray, A. M. N. H. (5) xiii, p. 351 



(1884) ; id. Jour. Bombay N. H. Soc. i, p. 159, plate. 

 Molagan, Tamul (Elliot) ; Bhulga, Mahr. (Sinclair). 



Snout rounded ; head very convex. No dorsal fin ; pectorals sub- 

 ovate. A band of tubercles on the back, broad in front, narrow 

 behind, from above the insertion of the pectorals to above the 

 vent. Teeth about J| (18 on each side of each jaw). Vertebra . 

 C. 7, D. 12-13, L. & C. 38-43. 



Fig. 187. Phoceena phoccsnoides. (From a drawing by E. A. Sterndale.) 



Colour. Black throughout ; a purplish-red patch on the upper 

 lip and one on tbe throat were observed by Murray. 



Dimensions. Length 45 inches, snout to pectoral fin 10, expanse 

 of tail 9 (Murray). A Bombay female was 50 inches long, 31 in 

 girth, with a tail 15 wide and pectoral fin 9 long ; weight 60 Ibs. 

 Basal length of skull 7*75, length of rostrum 3, breadth of skull 

 between orbits 4'75. 



Distribution. The shores of the Indian Ocean, from the Cape of 

 Good Hope to Japan. Eecorded in India from tidal rivers near 

 Calcutta ; also from Madras, Malabar, Bombay, and Karachi. 



Habits. For the following details I am indebted to Professor 

 Flower, to whom they were sent by Mr. W. F. Sinclair of Bombay. 

 This porpoise " frequents the tidal creeks, not ascending very far, 

 and the sounds among the reefs and islands. It feeds chiefly on 

 prawns, also on small cephalopods and fish. It does not appear to 

 herd in ' schools ' ; more than four or five are rarely, if ever, seen 

 together. Usually it is solitary; the pairs seem to consist of 

 female and calf, more often than male and female. The young 

 (one in number) are born, apparently, about October. The roll of 

 this porpoise is like that of Phoceena communis. It does not jump 

 or turn summersaults like Platanista and the Delphini, and is, on 

 the whole, a sluggish little porpoise." 



According to Mr. Sinclair's observations, this species is only 

 found in shallow water. 



This porpoise has generally been placed in the genus Neomeris, 

 distinguished from Phoceena by wanting a dorsal fin. As there is 

 no other distinction, and the species are in other respects nearly 

 allied, it appears unnecessary to maintain the generic distinction. 



