33 
CETACEANS. 
be observed within a-small area in the more placid reaches of the Indian rivers. 
Dr. Anderson writes that “it is difficult to say whether the Gangetic dolphin 
confines itself to limited areas when there is no disturbing cause at work, such as 
the rains, leading it to disperse itself over other channels and branches of the river, 
which are not accessible to it in the dry weather. In rising to breathe, the 
platanista may either simply expose the upper surface of its head, sufficiently to 
bring its blowhole above water, or, what is more common, plunge out of the water 
upwards, forwards, and downwards, first exhibiting its long snout, followed by 
two-thirds of its back. At such times it emits a short, blowing sound, which 
doubtless has given rise to the term [susu] generally applied to it along the Ganges 
and Bramaputra. During the cold months, in the quiet reaches, it even becomes 
THE GANGETIC DOLPHIN. 
at times extravagant in its movements, and will leap altogether out of the water 
with the tail curved downwards. As a rule, however, its respiratory visits to the 
surface are leisurely executed. I have had the rare opportunity of narrowly 
observing the respiratory movements of this dolphin from having had one alive for 
ten days in captivity. In its place of confinement this individual rose slowly to 
the surface, exposing the blowhole and a portion of its back. The blowhole opened 
whenever it reached the surface of the water, the characteristic expiratory sound 
was produced, and so rapid was inspiration that the blowhole seemed to close 
immediately after the expiratory act, and then the animal slowly subsided. The 
respirations were tolerably frequent, occurring at intervals of about one-half or 
three-quarters of a minute, and the whole act did not take more than a few seconds 
for its fulfilment.” 
Food The food of the Gangetic dolphin consists principally of fish and 
prawns ; many of the fish consumed by it being mud-haunting species 
