Manatus. MAMMALIA. HERBIYORA. i>9 



in a cave (Buckland, Rel. Dil. p. 18.), and in clay at Brentford, where, 

 according to Mr Trimmer, six tusks were found in turning over an 

 area of 120 yards. (Phil. Trans. 1813, p. 135). 



APOD A. 



JIN this great division of truly aquatic animals, so little is 

 known of their history, and of the limits of their geographical 

 distribution, that we are at a loss to determine what species should 

 be regarded as genuine natives, and what as merely occasional 

 visitants of our shores. It is judged expedient to enumerate 

 all those which have been detected in our seas, even though 

 they may have been stragglers, for the purpose of increasing 

 the facilities of those who enjoy, occasionally, a favourable op- 

 portunity for determining the species which are rare, and the 

 characters of which are consequently obscure. It is particularly 

 recommended to such naturalists to be minute in their observa- 

 tions and descriptions, in order to advance our knowledge of 

 the different kinds of British whales, the characters of many of 

 which are still involved in much uncertainty and confusion. 



HERBIVORA. 



Gen. XXVIII. MANATUS. Lamantine.— Grinders eight 

 on each side, with two transverse ridges. 



44. M. borealis. Sea-Cow. — When full grown, extending to 



28 feet in length. 



Manati, Bay, Quad. 193 — Trichechus manatus, Lin. Syst. 1. 49 



Stewart, El. 1. 125. 



In this animal, the fore-swimmers (fins or paws) are furnished with the ru- 

 diments of nails. In youth there are two small incisors in the upper jaw ; 

 the gape is small, the lips double, and the mouth is beset with white tubular 

 bristles. This species inhabits the western shores of America and Kamts- 

 chatka. In Greenland it is rare, as only one mutilated specimen occurred to 

 Fabricius — Fauna, Gr. p. 6. 



The only example of its occurrence in Britain is recorded by Mr Stewart 

 in his work quoted above : " The carcase of one of these animals was, in 1 785, 

 thrown ashore near Leith. It was much disfigured ; and the fishermen ex- 

 tracted its liver and other parts, from which a considerable quantity of oil was 

 obtained." I was subsequently informed by Mr Stewart, that it came ashore 

 at Newhaven in the harvest season ; though it had been dead for some time, 

 and was in a putrid state, he was able to satisfy himself with regard to the 

 species. 



