7166 Cetacea, 



locality, at Writtle, four miles from Chelmsford. I may also mention that the very 

 rare Lathyrus hirsutus is found at Nasing, Essex, in a field near the church, growinj; 

 with Lathyrus sylvestris, L. Aphaca aud L. Nissolia, and also the scarcely less rare 

 Vicia bithynica, all in the space of a few square yards. — Thomas Corder ; Kimpton, 

 near Bedford, August 20, 1860. 



[There is a figure of this beautiful plant in Curtis's ' Botanical Magazine,' pi. Ill, 

 and Mr. Watson, to whom I communicated the interesting fact of its discovery in 

 Essex, says, " This might reasonably be expected in Essex as a wild plant, subject 

 only to the doubt suggested by so showy a plant having been so long overlooked in a 

 metropolitan county, if aboriginally native. The species is widely spread in Europe. 

 Italy to South Sweden, eastward into Siberia, westward to Denmark, Hanover, Hol- 

 land, Belgium, West France, on faith of their Floras." Can Mr. Corder dry a few 

 specimens? They will be most acceptable to British botanists. — Edward Newman.'] 



The Dugong : the valuable Medicinal Properties of its Oil in 

 Consumption and various Diseases. By John McGrigor 

 Croft, Esq., M.D., M.R.C. Physicians, London, late Medical 

 Ofl&cer to H.M. Ceylon Rifles in China and Ceylon, and Staff 

 Surgeon to Her Majesty's Forces. 



[The talented author of the following observations having placed them in my hands, 

 I have much pleasure in presenting ihem to the notice of the readers of the ' Zoologist, 

 who will, I am sure, agree with me that so important a discovery in Medico-Zoology 

 ought to be made known as widely as possible. — Edward Newman}. 



This species is a native of the Indian Ocean, and principally 

 observed among the islands of the Indian Archipelago and the coast 

 of New Holland. It is frequently seen in considerable numbers on 

 the coast of Ceylon, especially along the northern shore of the island, 

 among the inlets from the Bay of Calpentyn to that part of Ceylon 

 called Adam's Bridge, where the water is still and the seaweeds abun- 

 dant. These creatures may be observed in troops, feeding, where the 

 ocean is clear, at a depth from three to four fathoms. The position 

 of the mouth in the dugong, and the muscular powers and mobility of 

 the lips, a large, thick and powerfiU upper lip falling over the lower, 

 and endowed with great muscular power and mobility, enable the 

 animal to seize and drag up its food. The Malays endeavour to 

 capture these phytophagous cetaceans, so also do the aborigines of 

 Australia, the flesh being exceedingly rich, and tasting like veal. Sir 

 James Emerson Tennent, late of Ceylon, saw one of these creatures, 

 which was sent to him at Colombo, in 1847 ; it had been killed at 

 Mauaar, and measured upwards of seven feel in length, but specimens 



