DUGONG 231 



Halicore dugong. Dugong. Duijong. 



Colour bluish grey, often inclining to whitish on the 

 under parts. Length from 5 to 9 feet. 



The Dugong inha.bits the shores of the Indian Ocean to 

 about 20 south of the Equator and 15^ north. 



It is purely a marine animal and never ascends rivers 

 like the Manatis of America and West Africa. 



Owing to their being constantly persecuted for the 

 valuable oil which is obtained from their bodies, they are 

 now getting scarce and wary and are only found in ones, 

 twos or threes, whereas formerly herds of large size — up 

 to a hundred or more, was a common occurrence. 



Fishing for Dugongs is a regular industry on the 

 Australian Coast. Its flesh is said to be quite tasty. 



There is a skeleton of one in the Transvaal Museum 

 presented by Capt. H. de Lacerda of Lourenco Marques. 



