Nols 1, No: 9:] Notes on the Dugong. 24.1 
[N.S. ] 
been stated. The curious projection of the anterior part of the 
lower jaw was only covered by a thin layer of skin and con- 
nective tissue ; itis 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 lp between the tusks. The lower part of the disk 
bore two broadly raised transverse ridges, which were divided from 
one another by the cleft and covered with bristles comparable to, but 
shorter and blunter than, the spines of a Porcupine. These ridges 
are evidently the homologues of the two lobes of the “‘ upper lip,” 
by means of which the Manatees crop the plants on which they 
feed. They do not appear to be either so mobile or so widely 
separable, however, in the Dugong. Above them the disc was 
covered with longer and finer bristles, evidently of a sensory 
nature. The upper edge of the disk was turned backwards and 
upwards, and there was a more or less inturned flap on either side. 
The nostrils were entirely outside the disk, on the top of the head : 
they were crescentic in shape and could evidently be closed during 
life. The tissues surrounding the eye were somewhat prominent ; 
but the eye itself was small, black, beady and deeply sunk. It was 
not surrounded by radiating wrinkles as in the Manatees. The 
presence of large glands in connection with it afforded some justi- 
fication for the Malays’ belief! that the Dugone weeps when 
captured. The external ear was extremely minute, being a 
circular aperture less than 10 mm. in diameter. 
Habits— 
It seems probable that the habits? of the Dugong have 
changed considerably within the last half century, together with 
the diminution in its numbers noted by Blanford and others. 
Only having seen a freshly-killed specimen, I am not in a position 
to say anything on this point from actual observation, but from 
what I was told by the native fishermen, who possess special nets 
for the capture of the Dugong, it is rare nowadays for more 
than one specimen to be taken at a time, whereas formerly, in the 
Gulf of Manaar, flocks of many hundreds were said to occur. 
Further, the animal appears to have ceased to frequent shallow 
water, for, according to the fishermen, the only specimens they 
1 They regard the tears of the tkan duyong (‘‘Dugong fish)” as a 
powerful love-charm. Muhammadan fishermen on the Gulf of Manaar 
appeared to be ignorant of this usage, but told me that a ‘‘doctor” once 
= out with them to collect the tears of a Dugong, should they capture 
one. Though they do not call the animal a fish, they are less particular 
about eating its flesh than are the Patani Malays and the Trang Samsams, 
who will not do so unless the “‘fish’s” throat has been cut in the manner 
orthodox for warm-blooded animals. The common Tamil name for the 
Dugong is kadalpudra (“ sea-pig”’); but the fishermen at Kilakarai (Lubbais) 
call it Williah, 
2 These remarks refer only to the Gulf of Manaar. Major A. R. Ander- 
son informs me that in the Andamans, Dugongs still enter Port Blair 
harbour occasionally in parties of two or three. Dec. 15th, 1905. 
