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DUYONCS (Sirema), 
There sltc ihree kinds of aquatic mammal^?, (l) the Seals, 
(2) Ihe Sirenia, including Maiiatis and Dityongs^ and (3) the 
Cctacea, including Whales, Porpoises and Dolphins- 
The Seals are closely allied to the Carnivora. None of 
them occur in tropical waters. The Sirenia are quite different 
beasts. They are herbivorous and feed on seaweed, and their 
teeth and inner organisation show some aifmity to the Pachy- 
derms. Their front-Hmbs have become paddle-like, whilst the 
hind-!imbs have disappeared altogether. They are the * mer- 
maids ' of fairy tales. There are two kinds of these mermaids, 
the Manatis and the Duyongs. The Manati is restricted to 
the two sides of the Atlantic, i.e. the coast of S. America and 
to W. Africa. But the Duyong (less correctly called DugongJ 
(Hdlicare duyong) occurs along the shores of eastern tropical 
seas, from the East coast of Africa to Australia, its skin is 
bare, except for a few thinly scattered hairs, and it has no 
traces of claws or nails. It occasionally attains a iength of 
nine feet. The Museum possesses stuffed and skeletonized 
specimens. The skeleton was prepared from a specimen 
caught in North Bornean Waters in 1895 and presented by 
Capl. J. Kramer. The animal was tor a few weeks kept alive 
in a tank of seawater and exhibited in the hall of the Museum. 
The Northern Sea-Cow which, used to reach a length of 20 to 
30 feet and became extinct about the year i;68» was a near ally 
of the Duyong, 
WHALES, PORPOISES, DOLPHINS 
(CetaceaJ, 
The Celacea comprise Whales, Porpoises and Dolphins. 
No Right Whales have so far been recorded from Indian seas, 
but two Fin-Whales occur there, two Sperm-W hales, and about 
fifteen species of Porpoises and Dolphins. 
The Museum possesses the skeleton of the Great Indian 
Fin-Whale or Ikan paus {Baiamoptera indku) (see pi. VIl). 
This whale was left stranded at a place called Sabatu, about 
18 miles to the south of Malacca town, on June 1 9, 1892. A 
pagar was built around it to prevent its getting back at high 
tide, and the poor beast took a week to die, making a greal 
noise for three days. Its voice was said to have resembiied that 
of a bull. Nothing was done with the blubber, but the 
Hun*b!e D. F. A. Hervey, Resident Councillor of Malacca at 
