18 
THE GEELONG NATUKALIST. 
time, lie never saw it after. Now, gentlemen, I have told you all I 
know about this mysterious animal. 
Some years ago there was a question asked in the " Austral- 
asian " about two peculiar animals that were seen in the Murray 
E-iver, something like big dogs. The answer was, that they were 
most likely some kind o£ fresh water seals. My opinion is that these 
animals are either some species of seal, or that they are a species 
of manatee, as found in the Amazon, or like the dugong found in 
the seas washing the coast of W. Australia, and which are killed in 
great numbers for the sake of their oil. The manatee or sea-cow 
as well as the dugong have some peculiarities in common. They 
are both mammals ; they are generally in an upright condition when 
seen at the surface. They have breasts like the human species, and 
they both carry their young pressed close to their breast, holding it 
by means of their flippers. It is thought, that as the face of these 
animals is something like that of the human being, they have given 
rise to the tales we have heard of mermaids. My principal reason 
for giving the above reminiscences is to cause a discussion as to 
what these animals are, and whether it is not possible that the 
bunyip is not such a myth as most people are inclined to make it. 
My hobby has been the stud}^ of the fauna of every country, 
and I have never heard a bird whistle or a strange noise that I have 
not tried to find out what it was ; and situated as I have been in the 
early days in this colony, and travelling as I have done all over the 
widest parts, long before they were settled, I have had opportuities 
of becoming acquainted with the habits of — I think, I may safely 
say — every animal to be found in Victoria. I must conclude now, 
and if this little narrative has given you half the pleasure while 
listening to it that it has me in writing — as it has recalled some of 
the happiest times of my life — I shall be perfectly satisfied. 
Since writing this, I have heard from Gr. F. Link, Esq., that 
the Eev. Mr. Hagenauer, of G-ippsland, has got the skin and skeleton 
of a veritable fresh water seal, or as the blacks call it "The Bunyip.' 
TEIGONIA OE THEEE ANGLED. 
By Me J. F. Mtjldee. 
The text books say there are 100 species of these fossils. They make 
their first appearance in the trias, and were not known to exist in the 
Tertiary, until they were found in the Australian beds. Besides 
this, three species are found living in our waters. 
The shell of the trigonia is thick, tuberculated or ornamented 
with radiating or concentric lines or ribs ; hinge teeth two and three, 
diverging and transversely striated ; centre tooth of left valve, 
divided. The animal has a long and pointed foot, bent sharply, 
heel prominent, the sole bordered by two crenulated ridges ; palpi, 
