42 THE LAMANTIN. 



they have been considered by some naturalists.* 

 The surface of the body is entirely destitute of hair. 



Dental System. 



£ I 10 tt « J 2 Incisive. 

 § 18 Upper 4 16Molar> 



H 



35 16 Lower -J 6 Molar. 



1 



In the upper jaw; in young individuals two 

 small pointed incisive teeth are found, somewhat 

 similar to those of the morse. There are no ca- 

 nines. The eight molars resemble each other; they 

 have a general square form, and all present two 

 transverse eminences, formed of three tubercles, 

 separated from each other by a deep groove: they 

 all have three divergent roots, one internal, the 

 other two external. They increase gradually, but 

 almost imperceptibly, in size from the first to the 

 last. 



In the lower jaw, neither incisive nor canine 

 teeth are ever found, and the molars resemble those 

 of the upper jaw. except in having a spur posterior- 

 ly, or a third eminence much smaller than the 

 others. These teeth have two roots, one in front, 



* Blainville at first arranged them with the unguligradaj 

 and subsequently with the gravigrada, as the Elephants, &c. 

 See Ranzani, Elem. di ZooIogia 3 ii. parte iii. p. 670. 



