THE MANATEES: FOOD. 119 



plants were placed before its mouth," says Mr. Conklin, "and each in turn rejected. At length 

 some canna, Canna indica, was procured, which it devoured greedily, and which it continues to use 

 alternately with sea- weed, Fucwt vcsiculosus, obtained in the East River." 1 The process of eating 

 takes place under water, which seems strange, in view of the fact that the animal cannot breathe 

 while therein engaged. 



Dr. Murie thus interestingly narrates the feeding habits of the Manatee at the London 

 Zoological Gardens in 1878: "On first arrival at the aquarium, cabbage, lettuce, watercress, 

 pieces of carrot ami turnip, loose and bundles of hay, and quantities of pond-weed were put into 

 the tank, both floating and sunk by weights attached. Occasionally it would sniff or examine 

 these by snout and lips without chewing or swallowing, until its appetite returned as above 

 mentioned. It then showed a preference to water-cress, though often taking cabbage, but after- 

 wards it chose lettuce, and entirely eschewed the others. When in the height of health it consumed, 

 according to Mr. Caningtou, from ninety to one hundred and twelve pounds of green food daily. 

 As lettuce became scarce and dear it cost ten shillings a day to supply it with the French sort; and 

 although cabbage, etc., was then cheap and abundant, it daintily chose the former, and as steadily 

 avoided and refused the latter." 2 



EARLY ALLUSIONS TO THE HABITS OF THE. AMERICAN MANATEES: BY COLUMBUS. 

 What relates to the food of the Manatee in the writings of travelers and explorers is so connected 

 with observations on its habits in general, that I may be pardoned for not withdrawing the facts 

 for insertion in the previous paragraph. We shall find in reviewing the various accounts of the 

 liabits of Sea-cows that there is not always a harmony of statements, and it will be necessary to 

 look with a critical eye upon the narratives of some of the earlier voyagers, who seem to have been 

 a little confused sometimes by the unfamiliar phenomena with which they were surrounded. 



The first apparent reference to the American Manatees in literature appears to be that in the 

 narrative of Columbus's fiist voyage, at the stage of his first departure for Spain, in 1493. Taking 

 up the thread of the narrative as given by Herrara, we read as follows: 



" Wednesday the ninth of January, he hoised sail, came to Punta Roxa, or Red Point, which is 

 thirty-six Leagues East of Monte Christo, and there they took Tortoises as big as bucklers, as they 

 went to lay their eggs ashore. The Admiral [Columbus] affirui'd he had thereabouts seen three 

 Mermaids, that rais'd themselves far above the Water, and that they were not so handsome as they 

 are painted, that they had something like a human Face, and that he had seen others on the Coast 

 of Guinea.'" 3 



The probability of the fact that the mermaids here referred to were really Manatees is in 

 Columbus's statement of having seen others on the coast of Guinea, as it is in that region that the 

 African Manatee, T. sencyalatsix, is abundant. Not many years later, in 1502, on the occasion of 

 Columbus's fourth voyage to America, the Manatee became well known to the adventurers while 

 at San Domingo. Oviedo, as quoted by Ilerrara, says: 



"The Spaniards at this Time found a new sort of Fish, which was a considerable advantage to 

 them: tho' in those parts there is much Variety. It is call'd Manati, in shape like, a skin they use 

 to carry Wine in, having only two Feet at the Shouldars, with which it swims, and it is found both 

 in the Sea and in Rivers. From the Middle it sharpens off to the Tail, the Dead of it is like that 

 of an Ox, but shorter, and more fleshy at the Snout; the Eyes small, the Colour of it grey, the Skin 

 very hard, and some scattering Hairs on it. Some of them are twenty Foot long, and ten in Thick- 



'CoXKUN, in Korcst and Stream, i, 1*71, ]>. H'>ii. 

 - MUKIK, iii Trims. Zoc'ilojjiciil Sm-ii-ty London, xi, 1880, pp. 22,23. 

 (STKVuxs): 1 1 ist. America,, i, 17;>f>, p. 82. 



