160 DELPHINID.E. 



146. Globicephalus indicus. 



BLYTH, Cat. 274. J. A. S. XIX. 426 ; XXI. 358. 

 THE INDIAN CA'ING WHALE. 



Descr. Of an uniform leaden-black colour, slightly paler beneath ; 

 similar in form and size to G. deductor of European seas, but the teeth 

 fewer and larger than in that species, being 6 or 7 above, 7 or 8 beneath. 



Length of an adult male, 14 feet 2 inches ; flippers 2 feet; dorsal fin 

 2 \ feet long, 1 1 inches high ; breadth of tail-flukes 3 feet. 



A shoal (schule or sehool of mariners) of this species was carried by a 

 current into the Salt-water lake, near Calcutta, in July 1852, where 

 Blyth saw them, and procured two specimens. They were floundering 

 about in all directions in the shallow water, and groaning painfully. He 

 was near enough to decide that when spouting, no jet of water was 

 thrown up, only aqueous particles, as from a wet syringe : this was 

 whilst the spiracle was above water. 



Another of this species was killed in the Hoogly near Serampore, 

 about the same time of year. 



There are very many species of this family now described, distributed 

 in numerous genera. One of the most remarkable is the Narwhal, or 

 Sea-unicorn, Monodon monoceros, L., the long ivory tusk of which is 

 grooved spirally and directed forwards. The germs of two tusks exist, 

 but only one is developed, usually the left. 



The Cachalots, or Sperm Whales, constitute the sub-family Catodontince. 

 They have an enormous head, with numerous teeth in the lower jaw, the 

 upper teeth being concealed in the gums. The upper part of their huge 

 heads is cellular, and the cavities are filled with a fatty substance, 

 becoming hard when cool, known as spermaceti, for which these whales 

 are chiefly hunted. The substance called ambergris is a concretion 

 found in their intestines. 



Blyth, under Catodon macrocephalus, remarks, " Occasionally hunted 

 at the entrance of the Bay of Bengal, within sight of Ceylon;" species 

 doubtful, however, as identical with that inhabiting the Northern seas. 

 I see that Professor Owen, in the paper referred to (page 156), alludes 

 to a new species of this family from Mr. Elliot's collection, which is 

 probably the one referred to. He names it Physeter (Euphysetes) simus. 



