344 Some Account of the Dugong. 



usual mottled colour. The trachea bifurcates very high up, 

 and the two branches diverge to their respective lungs. 

 Heart situated on the left side, double ; that is to sav, having 

 the ventricles entirely separate at their points, and only con- 

 nected at the upper part, or base. Each side possesses a ven- 

 tricle and auricle, with the usual valves, and without any com- 

 munication between the right and left sides. The left ventri- 

 cle, which gives off the aorta, is stronger and more muscular 

 than the right, whose cavity is larger, and coats thinner. 

 Of the skeleton, a few observations will suffice. — The skull is 

 remarkable by the peculiar manner in which the anterior part of 

 the upper jaw is bent downwards, almost at a right angle, so as 

 to form a kind of beak. The lower jaw is truncated in such a 

 manner as to correspond, and become parallel with the elon- 

 gated portion of the upper jaw. This portion of the lower 

 jaw lias eight alveolar excavations, which are sometimes empty, 

 and sometimes contain the rudiments of teeth. 

 The vertebra^ are fifty-two in nuniber, seven to the neck, eighteen 



to the back, and twent\--seven to the tail. 

 Ribs, eighteen on each side. 

 Sternum nearly a foot long, bifurcate at the apex, and articulated 



to the cartilages of the upper ribs. 

 There is no pelvis or posterior extremities, but there are found 

 opposite to the eighth or tenth lumbar vertebra two bones, 

 one on each side, lodged in the flesh, which are narrow and 

 flattened, and not above five or six inches in length. Scapulae 

 broad and thick ; humerus short and strong, as is also the 

 radius and ulna. The whole of these are firmly articulated to 

 each other ; and though externally the fins offer no appear- 

 ance of fingers, all the corresponding bones are found com- 

 plete even to the last phalanges. 



The food of the dngong appears to consist exclusively o^fuci 

 and submarine algce, which it finds at the bottom of shallow in- 

 lets of the sea. The position and structure of the mouth enables 

 the animal to browse upon these vegetables, much in the same 

 manner as a cow in a meadow ; and the whole structure of the 

 masticating and digestive organs shows it to be truly herbivorous. 

 The flesh resembles young beef, and is very delicate and juicy. 

 The individual, of which the skeleton and intestines are now 

 sent to England, was taken at Singapore in June 1819. 



According to the information given by the natives, the dugong 

 is never found on land, or in fresh water, but generally in the 

 shallows and inlets of the sea, where the water is only two or 

 three fathoms deep. During our short possession of Singapore, 

 (not more than six months) four of these animals have been taken; 

 but the greatest number is said to be caught during the opposite 



or 



