308 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 



could never approach sufficiently near to the animal to 

 convert conjecture into certainty. The breathing takes 

 place very quietly ; and the animal is far more submarine 

 in habit than cetaceans in general. It can exist, without 

 rising to the surface to breathe, for an hour — perhaps for a 

 much longer period. When resting, from time to time a 

 large bubble of air is emitted from the nostrils and rises 

 to the surface of- the sea. These bubbles often betray the 

 whereabouts of the animal, for it loves to be in deep, 

 quiet pools which are enclosed by rocks or coral 

 formations, and consequently have calm surfaces. About 

 every half-hour the dugong rises very slowly and quietly 

 to the surface of the water, and remains with the muzzle 

 exposed for three or four minutes ; then just as slowly it 

 sinks to its former position. When attacked or frightened 

 it will hide amongst the heavy growth of weeds, or retire 

 under shelving masses of coral, and I have witnessed 

 them remaining in such positions for fully an hour without 

 rising to breathe. 



As the female dugong always haunts rocks or coral 

 growths where there is a small cave, or perhaps a number 

 of them, into which she can retire, I think it is likely that 

 her young one is brought forth in such a shelter. She is 

 coy in receiving the attentions of the male ; and there are 

 several " cows " under the care of each " bull." I do not 

 know if the herds remain permanently together, but the 

 pairing season is during the month of February, March, 

 and April. It may commence a few weeks earlier, and 

 continue a few weeks later, but it is at its height on the 

 Australian reef during the named months. There do 

 not seem to be any contests among the males, as there is 

 with the seals and some other marine animals. 



The dugong has never been seen to land, and never 

 goes outside the Barrier Reef into deep water. It loves 

 to lie in four or five fathoms of water, and is seldom found 

 in depths that exceed ten fathoms. Its principal feeding- 

 grounds are in four or five fathoms, and it keeps to calm 

 water. From the little I have seen and heard of it in 

 rough weather, I believe that it is almost helpless if it 



