152 India. 



by Europeans in Lower Bengal. It is frequently preserved with vinegar and tamarind fruit, 

 and is then known as tamarind fish. Chittagong. (304 and 305) Pristipoma olivaceum and 

 Pristipoma hasta. Common around the coasts of India. The air bladders are collected and sold 

 to the Chinese, who ship them to China, where they are converted into isinglass. Chittagong. 

 (306) Dolphin of the Ganges. Platanista gangetica. This remarkable form of Cetacean, of 

 which only one species is known, is peculiar to the Ganges, Bramaputra, and Indus, and 

 is not found in the sea, being essentially fluviatile in its distribution. It ascends the 

 foregoing rivers from their estuaries up to their exits from the Himalayan range, and it is 

 widely distributed throughout them and their larger affluents. Its native names are sns, 

 susu, 8unaar,sihoo, Mhoo, and bulhan. Platanista gangetica is occasionally accidentally caught 

 in the nets of the fishermen. The flesh and blubber are eaten by some low caste Hindoos. 

 The illuminating powers of the oil are said to be high. A very young specimen in alcohol, 

 from the Hughli at Calcutta. 



DIVISION LIT. 



GOVERNMENT OP BENGAL. Reptiles. Crocodilidse. (307) The 

 Gavialis. Gavialis gangeticus. This Saurian is nearly exclusively a fish eater, and it occurs 

 in great numbers in the Ganges and its affluents. It attains to about 20 ft. in length. Two 

 specimens sent alive from the Hugli, Calcutta. Crocodilus. (308) Crocodilus palustris. 

 This species is widely distributed throughout India. It is not exclusively a fish eater, but 

 devours all kinds of offal as well. It is especially numerous in Lower Bengal, and during the 

 rains, the young wander about from stream to stream and tank to tank. It attains to 21 ft. in 

 length. Two specimens sent alive from the Hugli, Calcutta. Snakes destructive to Fish. Ophidia. 

 Non-poisonous Coliibridtv. (309) A specimen of the common snake, Tropidonotus guin- 

 cunciatus, which, although hardly a fresh-water form, is very aquatic in its habits. It is 

 widely distributed over India, Burmah, and Tenasserirn. One specimen in alcohol, from 

 Durbhunga, where it is known as the dhone. Homal. (310) A specimen of a 

 common form of fresh-water serpent, belonging to the family Homalopsidx, which are non- 

 poisonous snakes. The species is known as Hypsirhina enhydris, and is prevalent throughout 

 Bengal, Assam, Arakan, Burmah, and .Tenasserim. A specimen in alcohol, from Durbhunga, 

 where it is called machhgidhi, i.e. greedy offish. Poisonous. Hydrophidx. (311) Hijdrcphis. 

 An example from the Mergui Archipelago of the poisonous genus Hydrophis that 

 abounds along the coasts of India, Burmah, and the Malayan Peninsula. They live 

 exclusively on fish. A specimen in alcohol from the Mergui Archipelago. Living Terrapins 

 and Turtles sent along with the Exhibits. Emydidx. (312) Cuora amboinensis. A speci- 

 men from the Nicobar Islands. (313) Emys thurgL Three specimens from the neighbour- 

 hood of Calcutta, where the species is common. (314) Emys hamiltoni. Three specimens 

 from Jessore. (315) Pangshura tecta. One female from Jessore. (316) Batagur lineatus. 

 One specimen from Jessore. Trionyoidse. (317) Emyda granosa. One specimen from 

 Jessore. 



DIVISION LIII. 



GOVERNMENT OP BENGAL. Birds. (318) The Snake Bird. 

 Plotus melanogaster. The Darter, sometimes known as the snake bird, is not at all uncommon 

 in Bengal. It is a large consumer of fish. Two specimens sent alive from the Teesta Kiver. 

 (319) Small Cormorant. Graculus sinensis. This little cormorant is as great a fish eater 

 as the Darter, which it resembles in its habits. It is widely distributed over India. Two 

 specimens sent alive from the Teesta Kiver. 



DIVISION LIV. 



GOVERNMENT OP BENGAL. Animals destructive to Fish. (320) 

 The Otter of Lower Bengal. Lutra. This animal is widely distributed over Lower Bengal, 

 and lives exclusively on fish, has a very voracious appetite, and is numerically abundant. 

 Large number of fish are destroyed by it. When caught young, they are very docile, and 

 follow their master like a dog. The fishermen in the Jeesore Sundarbans take advantage 

 of this disposition, and train the otters to drive fish into their nets, the otter being 

 rewarded with some fish, each time it is successful. These tamed otters have a collar 



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