THE DUGONG, 



CHAPTER II 



The Indo-Pacific and its Shores 



The marine mammals of the Indian Ocean and the warmer zones 

 of the Pacific include a characteristic species of sea-cow, or sirenian, 

 universally known by its Malay name of dugong, a name also employed in its scientific 

 designation, Halicore dugong. These sea-cows frequent the coasts of the Indian 

 Ocean from East Africa on the one side to northern Australia on the other. In 

 colour dugongs are either uniformly grey or greyish black above and whitish beneath ; 

 while in length they may grow to as much as eight or nine feet, although they 

 are usually rather smaller. Among the characteristics of dugongs, of which there 

 appeal's to be but one species, may be mentioned the position of the nostrils on the 

 upper surface of the muzzle, the oval, nailless flippers, the convex horizontal and 

 oval tail, the presence of a pair of large tusks in the upper jaw of the males, and 

 the simple, semicylindrical structure of the few pairs of cheek-teeth, which are 

 quite unlike the numerous series of ridged molars found in the manati. 



In former days dugongs are reported to have occurred in large herds, and to 



have been so confiding that they might without difficulty be touched with the 



hand. For the sake, however, of their flesh, which is stated to be of excellent 



quality, and their valuable oil, they have been so persistently hunted that they 



VOL. III. — 21 3CI 



