BEHAVIOUR OF THE AMAZON DOLPHIN 



61 



animais. Only one buffeo at a time was seen. Only once were two animais (maie 

 and female ?) seen swimming together. The colour of the animal always corres- 

 ponded to the size, pink or grey. This observation was constant. Very rarely was 

 the head held out of the water so that the beak was visible. Almost always 

 cormorants were seen swimming or flying in the same area as the Inias. The 

 animais seem to inhabit certain areas of the river. They were always seen where 

 the river was broader and the current correspondingly slower. Inias were also 

 seen in the anchorage of Puerto Almacén in spite of the relatively busy traffic on 

 the river. 



3.2.1968 



Excursion to a large lagoon of the Rio Mamoré. 



10.20: Departure from Puerto Almacén in a boat with an outboard motor, 

 speed is 4-5 knots, through the Toribio canal which connects the Rio Ibaré with 

 the Rio Mamoré. Overcast, a breeze and a surprising lack of mosquitos. The 

 current in the canal is obvious. 



10.50: A buffeo sighted spouting in the middle of the canal. 



11.00: Entered the Rio Mamoré, very strong current. Sunny (Fig. 7). 



1 1.05: One buffeo sighted near the western bank. 



11.10: An Inia blows close to the boat approximately ten meters from the 

 western bank. 



1 1.50: One animal sighted twenty meters from the boat and 25 meters from 

 the bank. The banks are thick with reeds. Shortly afterwards, two animais are 

 sighted swimming close together. Bright sun with strong reflexion on the surface 

 of the water. Température 30 C. The animais appear to blow twice at the most 

 and then dive. We coast along the western bank. Again many cormorants seen in 

 the same area as the Inia. 



12.15: We have turned and are travelling along the east bank. Végétation the 

 same. 



12.45: At the entrance of the lagoon, one buffeo sighted. We enter the lagoon. 

 Température 35 C. Strong smell of rotting water weeds. 



17.30: On the north bank of the lagoon, another buffeo sighted. 



4.2.1968 



Mamoré lagoon. 



7.15: Rainy night. Three Inias sighted at the north bank of the river in front 

 of the camp. They are swimming slowly and blowing regularly. The blow can be 

 seen quite clearly at right angles to the surface of the water. The animais blow 

 once vigourously, breathe two or three times quietly and then dive and stay under 

 water for quite some time. 



