Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — ITS FACE RESEMBLES A MANIS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ITS FACE RESEMBLES A MANIS.

The Dncong Is the Funniest Fish Afloat. The dugoing is certainly the queerest animal that eyer. came out of the sea. “ This dugong was captured t>y a British liian-of-war, near Aden, inj the Red Sea. When the animal was cut open a young one was found inside her. TKe measurements of the mother dugong are: Length, 8 feet; greatest breadth, 1 foot 10 inches; longest finger, 7 inches; breadth of head, 10 inches; length of head, 12 inches; greatest breadth of tail,' 10 inches. Tne child is 2 feet 6 inches in length, 6 inches in breadth and'its tail at the greatest breadth measures 10 inches. The resemblance of the dugong to a human being is very striking, but very grotesque. The animal seen here looks

like an immensely fat old man, with unnaturally short arms and"wearlng trousers that conceal all of his legs, but his feet. _, This dugong has a round head, bald at the top, with side whiskers, and clearly marked nose, mouth, and ears. Her hands are of enorinoufe size, especially the lingers. One may note that the length of the longestifinger measures seven inches. It would be unpleasant to have such a finger put into any one. The fingers are used for the purpose of sorakchlng up the mud. They are somewhat human.: in form. She has* no a rms to speak of. The skiu of the-flugong is a whitish green In color, and is sprinkled with coarse hairs. The color of the dugong, as well as its form, gives ground for the supposition that it is the mermaid of mythology.

MOST CURIOUS FISH IN THE OCEAN.