DELPHINirs PLTJMBEUS. 157 



the forehead ; teeth numerous, slightly recurved, vary from 24 to 60 on 

 each side, both above and below ; a median dorsal fin. 



142- Delphinus perniger. 



Elliot apud Blyth, Cat. 280. 



The Black Dolphin. 



Descr. — 26 teeth on each side, above and below, obtuse, slightly curved 

 inwards. Of an uniform shining black above ; beneath blackish. 



Total length of one 5 feet 4 inches ; back to frontal elevation 4 inches ; 

 dorsal fin (somewhat posterior) 10| inches long, 6 inches high ; spread of 

 tail flukes about 141 inches. This species was taken in the Bay of Bengal 

 and sent to the Museum of the Asiatic Society by Mr. W. Elliot. 



143. Delphinus plumbeus. 



dubstjmier. 



The Plumbeous Dolphin. 



Descr. — 36 teeth on each side in the upper jaw, and 82 in the lower 

 jaw. Of an uniform leaden color, with the lower jaw white. Length of 

 one, 8 feet. 



Has been taken on the Malabar coast. Blyth, in his Catalogue, has in- 

 dicated from the skulls Delphinus eurynome, Gray; Steno frontatus 

 Cuvier ; Steno attenuatiis, Gray ; and Neomeris phoccenoides Dussumier, 

 all, from the Bay of Bengal. I shall refer to these in the Appendix. 



Gen. Platanista. 



Char. — Eostrum very long, compressed, slightly enlarged at the ex- 

 tremity; teeth very numerous, conic and recurved in both jaws, com- 

 pressed ; paddles triangular, fan-shaped ; dorsal fin rudimentary ; eye 

 minute. 



Skull with the maxillary bones bent up in front of the spiracles, forming 

 a vault; the neck long, the cervical vertebrse moveable. Possesses a 

 small coecum. 



This genus is peculiar, as far as known, to India. 



