Vol. I, No. 9.] Notes on the Dugong. 241 
N.S. 
been stated. The curious projection of the anterior part of the 
jaw was only covered by a thin layer of skin and con- 
nective tissue ; it is the rounded structure which looks like a heavy 
lower lip in fig. 1, plate 8. Above the tusks the integument 
expanded into a large flattened disk, which was divided into two 
halves by a vertical cleft. This cleft also extended along the base 
of the upper lip between the tusks. The lower part of the disk 
res 
fication for the Malays’ belief! that the Dugong weeps when 
captured. The external ear was extremely minute, being a 
circular aperture less than 10 mm. in diameter. 
Habits— 
ems probable that the habits? of the Dugong have 
h 
It se ’ 
changed considerably within the last half century, together with 
the diminution in its numbers noted by Blanford and others. 
bs be . . 
If of Manaar, flocks of many hundreds were s 
Further, the animal appears to have ceased to frequent shallow 
water, for, according to the fishermen, the only specimens they 
PE ace ea a a 
1 They regard the tears of the tkan duyong (‘‘Dugong fish)” as a 
powerful love-charm. Muhammadan fishermen on the Gulf ar 
= 
8 
ey 
nm 
) 
8. 
m 
® 
odox f -blooded anim The common Tamil nam ] 
‘is Radalpadra (" somepig”) 3 but the fishermen at Kilakarai (Lubbais) 
Call it dvilliah, : 
_ 2 These remarks refer only to the Gulf of Manaar. Major ager see 
50n informs me that in the Andamans, Dugongs still enter Po 
harbour occasionally in parties of two or three. . Dec. 15th, 1905. 
