342 Some Account of the Dugong. 



which I have succeeded in persuading- liim to send home to you 

 for dissection, and you will receive it by the next ships. 



The dugong which we examined measured eight feet and a 

 half in length, and afforded no less interest under the knife than 

 satisfaction on the table, as t'oe flesh proved to be most excellent 

 beef. Our entertainn;ent was truly marine ; for we had on the 

 same day discovered those Neptunian sponges which General 

 Hardwicke has since described, and which served us as goblets. 



In form the dugong resembles the common cetacca, having, 

 like them, a broad horizontal tail, and two pectoral fins without 

 nails. The skin is smooth, thick, blueish above and whitish be- 

 neath, with a few remote and scattered hairs. The mammae (in 

 the two male individuals examined) are small, and situated ou 

 the breast, immediately below the pectoral fins. 

 Head small in pro|)orti!)n, obtuse, and of a peculiar form. Upper 

 lip very large, thick, and obliquely truncated, forming a short, 

 thick, and nearly vertical kind of snout. The surface of the 

 truncated portion is covered with soft papillae, and is also fur- 

 nished with a few bristles. Two short tusks project straight 

 forward from the extremity of the upper jaw, and are nearly 

 covered by the upper lip, which is very moveable, and tumid 

 at the margin. The lower lip is much smaller, and resembles 

 a round or oblong chin. The margin of both lips is furnished 

 with strong coarse bristles. There are no incisors in either 

 jaw (the tusks above mentioned being more properly defences), 

 their place being supplied by the rough bristly surfaces of the 

 palate and jaws, which serve as rasps, to enable the animal 

 to browse upon the algcB and other submarine vegetal)les. To 

 facilitate this still further, the anterior part of the jaw is bent 

 downwards at an angle, in such a manner as to bring the 

 month into nearly a vertical direction. There are no canine 

 teeth. The molares are twelve in number, six in each jaw, 

 placed far back on the horizontal part. They ae cylindrical, 

 with flat crowns ; the first are somewhat oblique, and worn to 

 a kind of point; the second are perfectly flat; but the last 

 arc con-posed of two parallel and adhering cylinders. Thev 

 are short, and >carcely project from the gums. The tongue 

 is small and short. The nostrils are situated on the summit 

 of the upper jaw, where it makes its curvature downwards. 

 They penetrate obliquely, in such a manner that the upper 

 semilunar edge, pressing upon the lower surface, forms a per- 

 fect valve. The eyes are small, and situated on the sides of the 

 cranium. The aperture of the ears is so small as with difli- 

 culty to be perceived, and is situated at some distance behind 

 the eves. Body 



