CHAPTER III. 



Family I. Sirenla; Herbivorous Cetacea. 



This family is distinguished especially by the ve- 

 getable diet of the animals belonging to it, which 

 is indicated by their flat grinding teeth. The bead 

 is not very large, and has always a short and obtuse 

 snout, at the extremity of which, the external open- 

 ings of the nostrils are situated, notwithstanding 

 they pass through the bones of the head from the 

 superior part. The mouth is garnished with long 

 bristles or whiskers, and the teats are situated upon 

 the chest. 



The anterior extremities, though compressed, are 

 still sufficiently free to allow them to be used for the 

 purpose of carrying any thing by holding it against 

 the body, the young, for instance, being thus held by 

 the mother. The tail is not very large, but is pow- 

 erful. These animals swim with great facility, and 

 as they are able to raise the anterior parts from the 

 water, so as to form a considerable angle with the 

 trunk, it is considered as highly probable that the 

 various fables of sirens, tritons and mermaids may 



