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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



through the skin, with which they are connected ; but no evidence 

 of digital organs is outwardly visible, except the rudimentary nails 

 on the edges of the flippers. The flippers, flexible and possessing 

 much of the power of the hand, have given the animal its name, from 

 the Latin manus, a hand. The head is conical, with a fleshy nose, 



Fig. 1. Manatee. 



like that of a cow, and large nostrils, and appears as if joined imme- 

 diately on to the body, without visible neck. Anatomy furthermore 

 shows that one of the cervical vertebras, of which there are generally 

 seven in mammals, including the dugong, is wanting. The mouth is 

 small, and without front teeth, but is provided with two mobile, lateral, 

 bristle-covered pads, with which it seizes its food quite dexterously. 

 The mammas are on the breast, and so resemble those of the human 

 being as to make it easy to believe that the fable of the mermaid was 

 derived from this animal. 



The manatees feed in herds on the bottoms of rivers and the shal- 

 low waters along the shore, where they browse on algae and aquatic 

 herbs. They associate together in the most peaceable manner, and 

 show a great community of feeling. They combine for defense when 

 attacked, taking especial care of their young, by putting them in the 

 center of the group, and, it is said, showing so much intelligent sym- 

 pathy as to try to pull out the weapon from one of their companions 

 which may have been struck with a harpoon. It is, indeed, a great 

 shame to attack them wantonly, for no animal is more gentle and 

 inoffensive, or more easily domesticated ; but their flesh is excellent 

 food, being much like pork, and is, moreover, allowed by the church 

 to be eaten as fish on fast-days, and must, therefore, be considered 

 legitimate prey for man. These animals are the most numerous in- 

 habitants, after the turtles, of the waters around Greytown, Nicaragua, 



