128 ON DOLPHINS FROM TRAA^ANCORE. [Feb. 21, 



liave appeared, and that in the other some maj^ have been lost. 

 In any case, the difference is not very great or important. 



That a North- Pacific Dolphin should be met with on the coasts 

 of India is little, if at all, more improbable than the occurrence 

 there of an Australian form {T. catalania). Accordingly (till 

 evidence to the contrary be forthcoming) I. propose to regard the 

 specimen represented in Plate XIII. fig. 1 as T. gilli. 



If I am right in the foregoing identifications (and the difficulty 

 of the subject is so great that every determination must be 

 regarded as more or less provisional), we shall have the following 

 external characters of the definable species of Tursiops : — 



1. Tursiops tursio. IJuropean Seas *, 



Size large : 9 ft. 6 ni. 

 Upper surface blackish. 

 Under-parts white and unspotted. 



2. Tursiops abusalam. Eed Sea and Indian Ocean. 



Size smaller : 7 ft. 2k in. (type), 6 ft. 11 in. (India). 

 Upper surface dai-k greenish. 



Under-parts whitish and spotted with green in ndult ; 

 whitish in young. 



3. Tursiops catalania. N. Australia to Indian Ocean. 



Syn. T.fergusoni. 



Size about the same as last: 7 ft. 8 in. (type), 7 ft. 4| in. 



(India). 

 Upper surface dark slate. 

 Under-parts yellowish t, flecked with lead-colour. 



4. Tursioj^s gilli. IST. Pacific to Indian Ocean. 



Size, Indian specimen, 6 ft. 8 in. 



Whole surface blackish, tending to lighten slightly on the 

 under-parts, with a tinge of reddish in Indian specimens. 



Whether or no I am right in any or all of these identifications, 

 the coloured figures of the Trevandrum specimens cannot fail to 

 be of great value in future researches on the subject; and I 

 venture to hope that the authorities of the Trevandrum Museum 

 will continue their excellent practice of sketching and preserving 

 evei-y Dolphin that may come to hand. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIIT. 



Fig. 1. Tursiops giUi (7). Adult. 



2. Tin-slops ahusalam f?). Immatnre. 

 Both specimens from the Trevandrum district. 



* Till further evidence, I should doubt the occurrence of this species in the Indian 



t In the type the under-parts are said to he whitish ; if the orange tint of the 

 Trevandrum specimens is a specific character, then the name T. fergiisoni will be 

 available for the Indian form. 



