. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE aVaU, OR GANGETIC JJOLPHIX. 249 anterior and the posterior teeth is exceedingly marked in size, the former being very long, the latter very short, while as age advances quite the reverse is the case. The back teeth also wear down very considerably in the crown, and increase in breadth in root-siibstance; indeed, as Dr. J. Anderson has shown, the true dental material is worn away, and finally nothing but bone is left. The head of the male is about two-thirds the length of that of the female, and in both its point is slightly upturned. T
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE aVaU, OR GANGETIC JJOLPHIX. 249 anterior and the posterior teeth is exceedingly marked in size, the former being very long, the latter very short, while as age advances quite the reverse is the case. The back teeth also wear down very considerably in the crown, and increase in breadth in root-siibstance; indeed, as Dr. J. Anderson has shown, the true dental material is worn away, and finally nothing but bone is left. The head of the male is about two-thirds the length of that of the female, and in both its point is slightly upturned. The apparently rounded skull behind the snout has broad thick zygomatic arches, and above and in front of these the cheek-bones {maxilke) each send forwards and inwards a gi-eat roughened sheet of bone or crest, which forms a kind of open helmet. In the large hollow between these bony plates, and somewhat behind, are situated the nasal orifices, which are slightly awry. The Susu frequents the deep reaches and creeks of the river, Dceasionally coming to the surface to. blow, and although often heard are but seldom captured. Ordinarily their movements are slow, but at times they seem exceedingly active. Their food is chiefly fish, shrimps, &c., which they grovel for among the mud, something like Pigs wallowing in the mire. Grass, rice, and shells have been found in theii- stomachs, but Dr. Anderson has clearly shown that they are not vegetable feeders, for in the rainy season, when gi-eat tracts of land are under water, these animals pursue the fish right into the submerged " paddy-fields," and the grass is thus most probably swallowed with tlieir prey. The Hindoos have religious superstitions concern- ing the Susu. It certainly is one of the oldest known Cetaceans, since Pliny and .^lian both allude to it. It has been supposed that the kind which in- habits the Indus was a separate species, but this error has doubtless arisen from the gieat difference in size of the
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