268 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
the dugong or halicore, of which the distribution is rather widespread, 
from the Red Sea and East African coasts to the west coast of 
Australia. The latter country possesses an organised dugong fishery, 
which bids fair to exterminate this harmless animal. They are prized 
for the excellent quality of. the oil they yield, which is clear and free 
from objectionable smell. 
GENUS HALICORE—THE DUGONG. 
_ Have grinders of two cones laterally united. The premaxillary region 
is elongated and bent downwards, overlapping the very deep lower jaw, 
which is similarly bent down. They have ordinarily two incisors in the 
upper jaw, none in the lower. No canines, and molars ar total 
ae 
fourteen teeth. The incisor tusks in the bent-down upper jaw are 
longer in the male, and sometimes project beyond the thick fleshy lips, 
but in the female they are small. The head is round, the lips thick 
and bristled with moustaches, the body is elongated, and the tail 
terminated by a crescent-shaped flapper. 
No. 272. HALICORE DUGONG. (/erdon's No. 240.) 
The Dugong. 
Native NaMe.—MMooda Oora, Singhalese. 
Hazirat.—Indian Ocean off Ceylon. 
Description.—Body pisciform, terminated by a horizontal fin with 
flalicore dugong. 
two lobes; colour slaty brown above, sometimes bluish black, whitish 
below. 
Size.—From 5 to 7 feet long usually, but said to reach ro. 
