48 PORPOISES AT MOIIETOJ^ BAY. 



gTiiss^ Isclicemum Jlotthoellioide : the others are a 

 handsome pink flowered convolvulus (Ipomcea 

 maritima), one stem of which measured 15 yards in 

 lengthy and Hihhertia voluhilisj a plant Avith large 

 yellow hlossoms. 



Among- the marine animals of Moreton Bay 

 are two cetacea of g"reat interest. The first of 

 these is the Australian dugongfHalicore Aiistralis)^ 

 which is the ohject of a reg"ular fishery (on a small 

 scale however^) on account of its valuahle oil. It 

 fi'equents the Brisbane river and the mudflats of the 

 harbour^ and is harpooned by the natives^ who know 

 it under the name of Yung-un. The other is an 

 undescribed porpoise^ a specimen of which^ however^ 

 I did not procure_, as the natives believed the most 

 direful consequences would ensue from the destruc- 

 tion of one ] and I considered the advantages result- 

 ing to science from the addition of a new species 

 of Plioccena^ would not have justified me in out- 

 raging their strongly expressed superstitious feelings 

 on the subject. We observed that whenever a drove 

 of these porpoises came close inshore^ a party of 

 natives followed them along the beach^ and when a 

 shoal of fish^ endeavouring to avoid their natural 

 enemies^ approached within reach^ the blacks rushed 

 out into the water with loud cries^ and^ keeping' their 

 bag nets close together^ so as to form a semicircle^ 

 scooped out as many fish as came within reach. 



Our seining' parties from the ship were usually ver}^ 

 successful^ but only at one particular time of tide^ 



