Vol. VI, No. 10.] Materia Medica Animalium Indica. 517 



[N.8.] 



Vern. : — Reg mahi, reg-mae, Hind.; Sarado, kakida, Bomb. 



Honigberger, Baden Powell and Sakharam Arjun refer 

 this ' c sand fish 



" to iMcerta semens 



peculiar to Egypt and Algeria, and does not extend beyond the 

 shores of the Red Sea. S. mitranus occurs only in the sandy 

 region of Sind. The lizard is eviscerated and dried and in this 

 state is sold in the bazars of Northern India. It is beaten 

 into a paste and administered with spices. It has a reputation 

 as a nervine stimulant, tonic and aphrodisiac. 



An oil is sometimes prepared from this and other lizards, 

 and used by Muhammadans as an aphrodisiac. Irvine speaks 

 of Sanda, a kind of lizard which is distilled and the oily product 

 used in Ajmir. 



Mabuia carinata, Boulenger. 



According to the Dictionary of Economic Products this 

 lizard, the common Indian skink, is used medicinally. 



MAMMALIA. 



SlRENIA. 



Halicorb indicus, Desm. . . • . The Dugong. 



This species is distributed throughout the Indian Ocean, 

 on the west of Ceylon, and in the Eastern Archipelago. From 

 6 to 14 gallons of oil is yielded by each animal. The oil which 

 is free from odour is highly valued in medicine and cookery. 

 It is said to be an admirable substitute for cod-liver oil. 



CETACEA. 



Physeter macrocephalus, Linn. . . The Sperm Whale. 



Vern. : — Abr-i-amber, Arab. ; Sahabula, Pers. ; Ambana, 

 Guz. ; Ambergris, Ee 



A morbid excretion found in the intestine of the whale, 

 found in the sea and on the coasts of India, Africa and Brazil. 

 A single piece has been known to weigh 760 lbs. It was 

 introduced into medicine by the Arabs, and is prescribed for 

 its stimulant and antispasmodic properties. It is mostly used 

 in perfumery. It contains about 85 per cent, of ambrein, 

 balsamic extractive and a minute quantity of ash. 



PioATanista gangetica, Gray & Harder. .. Gangetic Dolphin. 



Vern. :—Sus, susa, Hind. ; Susufc, sishuk, Beng. ; Sisumar, 

 Sans. ; Bhutan, sunsar, Sind. ; Hiho, seho, Ass. ; If ah, Sylhet. 



This dolphin is common in the tidal waters of the Indus, 

 Ganges and Brahmaputra. The flesh is eaten by particular 

 castes and the oil has a erreat reputation as an embrocation. 



