SEA-D RAGOUT. 735 
M. Daubenton, which was kept in spirits. Compare BufFon, tom xii. 
tab. iv. fig. 2. 
**This huge animal has doubtless obtained its present name merely 
in consequence of the neighing sound it makes, as otherwise in its 
form it bears not the least resemblance to a horse, but rather to a 
hog. Neither does it in the least resemble the ox ; so it could be 
only the different stomachs of this animal which could occasion it to 
be called sea-cow at the Cape ; and perhaps it is for the same reason 
that the Hottentots call it the t’gao, which nearly approaches to 
t’kau, the name by which the buffalo is knowm amongst these people. 
“ From the account given by Bellonius of the tame hippopotamus, 
which he describes as a beast of a very mild and gentle nature, as 
well as from the disposition of the calf we had just caught, I am per- 
suaded that this animal might easily be brought over to Europe, 
where, report says, it has been exhibited at two different times in the 
public spectacles at Rome. For this purpose, the capture might 
easier be made at Konap’s-river, where these animals, according to 
the accounts given me by the Caffres, reside in great abundance, and 
milch cows might be kept ready at hand, in order to rear the calf, in 
case it should be a suckling. Indeed, I am apt to suppose that one 
a little older than this would not be very nice in his food, as that 
which we caught was induced by hunger, as soon as it was let loose 
from the waggon, to put up with something which had been just 
dropped from one of our oxen. This perhaps may appear very 
extraordinary, in an animal with four stomachs ; but there have been 
instances of this kind known in common cattle, which in Herjedal are 
partly fed with horse-dung. See Halpher’s Description of Norw'ay, 
p. 27 to 87. I have been likewise assured, that this method of feed- 
ing cattle has been practised with great advantage in Uplandia, when 
there has been a scarcity of fodder ; and that afterwards these same 
cattle, when they have not been in want of proper fodder, have taken 
to this food on their owm accord, and eaten it without any thing else 
being mixed with it.” 
Sea-Dragon. 
This is a monster of a very singular nature. In the Gentlenian^s 
Magazine for 1749, we have the account of a sea-dragon, which was 
said to be taken between Orford and South Would, on the coast of 
Suffolk, and afterwards carried round the country as a curiosity by 
the fishermen who caught it. “ Its head and tail,” says the writer, 
resemble those of an alligator ; it has two large fins, which serve 
it both to swim and to fl^ ; and though they were so dried that I 
could not extend them, yet they appear, by the folds, to be shaped 
like those which painters have given to dragons and other winged 
monsters, that serve as supporters to coats of arms. Its body is. 
covered with impenetrable scales ; its legs have two joints, and its 
feet are hoofed like those of an ass ; it has five rows of very white 
and sharp teeth in each jaw, and is in length about four feet, though 
it was longer when alive, it having shrunk as it became dry. It was 
caught in a net with mackerel ; and being brought on shore, was 
