PLATANISTA INDI. 159 



been killed by the explosion of gunpowder in a wreck in the Hoogly. 

 At Monghyr, a certain caste occasionally catch them ; and many are 

 stated to be killed in Dacca by a peculiar tribe called Garwarus, who 

 spear them and otters. They eat the flesh and burn the oil, which is 

 also used in rheumatism. 



A long account of this animal, with copious anatomical details by 

 Erichson, and translated by Dr. Wallich, is to be found in the number 

 of the " Annals and Magazine of Natural History " quoted above. He 

 considers it most nearly allied to ffyperoodon, with relations to the South 

 American genus Inia, also found in rivers. The very minute eye, with 

 the very small or almost rudimentary state of the optic nerves, show that 

 this dolphin must be considered to occupy among whales the same place 

 as the mole does among insectivora, and that it seeks its food in places 

 devoid of solar light, owing to the muddy state of the river. It is, 

 however, occasionally found in moderately clear water in the higher 

 parts of the Ganges. 



The following species is pronounced by Blyth to be conspicuously 

 distinct. 



145, Platanista Indi. 



BLYTH, Cat. 285. J. A. S. XXVIII. 493. 



THE PORPOISE OF THE INDUS. 



Descr. Larger and more robust than P. gangetica, and of a paler 

 colour ; number of teeth the same, but twice as stout ; the depth of the 

 two jaws with the teeth, about their middle, 3J inches, whilst in P. gan- 

 getica it is barely 1 f inch. 



Length of one, 7 feet; skull 20 J inches; greatest width at the 

 zygomata 9 J ; symphysis of lower jaw 11. 



There is a drawing of this porpoise among those of Sir A. Burnes, 

 and there is a skull in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta, 

 presented by the same gentleman, from the river Indus. 



Gen. GLOBICEPHALUS, Lesson. 



Char. Head rounded in front ; paddles long, narrow, and pointed ; 

 teeth few in number, deciduous when old ; dorsal fin distinct ; inter- 

 maxillaries broad. 



