48 PORPOISES AT MORETON BAY. 



grass, IschcBmum Bottboellioide: the others are a 

 handsome pink flowered convolvulus (Ipomoea 

 maritima), one stem of which measured 15 yards in 

 length, and Hibhertia voluhilis, a plant with large 

 yellow blossoms. 



Among the marine animals of Moreton Bay 

 are two cetacea of great interest. The first of 

 these is the Australian dugong ( Salicore Australia), 

 which is the object of a regular fishery (on a small 

 scale however,) on account of its valuable oil. It 

 frequents the Brisbane river and the mudflats of the 

 harbour, and is harpooned by the natives, who know 

 it under the name of Yung-un. The other is an 

 undescribed porpoise', a specimen of which, however, 

 I did not procure, as the natives believed the most 

 direful consequences would ensue from the destruc- 

 tion of one; and I considered the advantages result- 

 ing to science from the addition of a new species 

 of PTioccBna, would not have, justified me in out- 

 raging their strongly expressed superstitious feelings 

 on the subject. We observed that whenever a drove 

 of these porpoises came close inshore, a party of 

 natives followed them along the beach, and when a 

 shoal of fish, endeavouring to avoid their natural 

 enemies, approached within reach, the blacks rushed 

 out into the water with loud cries, and, keeping their 

 bag nets close together, so as to form a semicircle, 

 scooped out as many fish as came within reach. 



Our seining parties from the ship were usually very 

 successful, but only at one particular time of tide, 



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