GULF OF MEXICO 



545 



The general proportions of the Sea-Cow are like those 

 of the Sea-Elephant and Seal. Its anterior limbs, or 

 swimming paws, are short, thick, and rounded at their 

 extremities. Its posterior limb, or tail — forms a thick oval 

 lobe, slightly notched in the center of its termination. 



Its head is tapering with a small rounded muzzle. Its 

 comparatively small mouth is almost hidden from view, 

 when the creature lies in a state of quietude. 



Its very small dark eyes are devoid of expression. The 

 general color of the Sea Cow is a dull black, but frequently 

 white or clay colored patches or spots occur about the 

 throat, neck and caudal extremities. 



The approximate proportions of the animal is about 7 

 feet in length, and 6 feet in its greatest girth of body. 



Our only opportunity for observing upon the habits of 

 the Sea Cow was at Key West, Florida — 1880 — when two 

 captured animals were enclosed in a broad shallow tank 

 which, however, afforded the animals room to move about 

 and around each other. 



The actions of the strange creatures — as they appeared 

 to us — were extremely interesting. Both of them seemed 

 inclined to remain in a state of quietude, for whenever an 

 attempt was made to move them about or roll them over, 

 they would raise a plaintive cry, the sound of which, in 

 its half nasal strain, was much like that of an infant. 

 But the moment they were left undisturbed, they would 

 lay quite motionless. Or if a movement was made, it was 

 in a sluggish manner. 



The geographical distribution of the Atlantic Sea-Cow 

 is, or has been, about bays and large rivers and lagoons, 

 which are near, or within the tropical limits of North and 

 South America, and which are closely connected with 

 ocean waters. Or from the northern coast of Florida to, 

 and including the shores and savanas of the Amazon 

 River. The last mentioned affording these herbivorous 

 marine animals a vast and luxuriant feeding ground, where 

 they roamed at will, and basked on shore, under a tropical 

 sun, when not molested by their human pursuers. About 

 the West India Islands, Sea Cows were in former years 

 found in large numbers. 



According to the accounts of old voyages, this marine 

 vegetable eater abounded on the coast of Africa, in the 

 same zone as those found upon the American coasts. 



Although the natural food of the sea cow is the spon- 

 taneous herbage bordering low shores, or spreading over 

 marshy regions, its fondness for more luscious subsistence 

 is of peculiar intere.st. 



The fact was verified by the two individuals brought 

 to Key West. For when they were in a hungry state, the 

 tender leaves of beets, as well as those of cabbage, would 

 be eagerly devoured. Yet, when not craving food, they 

 manifested much enjoyment in eating bananas, if peeled 

 for them — and at such times, they would utter a sort of 

 nasal or guttural strain of satisfaction, quite amusing. 

 But the moment common grass, or the tops of turnips, 

 were offerefl to them, they would utter their whining 

 petulant cry of dissatisfaction as if they were weanlings. 



Many writers testify to the Sea Cows' strong affection 

 for their young offspring. And when attacked, the mother 

 will sacrifice her own life, in her efforts to protect her 

 charge. And during the time of a murderous onslaught, 



the lamentations of the parent animal are mentioned as 

 deeply affecting to witness. Hence the name frequently 

 mentioned by both sailors and hunters, Lamentin. Yet 

 like their congeners, the Seal, Sea Otters, and Sea Ele- 

 phants, the sea cows are rapidly approaching extinction 

 and at the present time are only found in remote retreats. 



Order CETACEA 



Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins 

 GENERAL INFORMATION 



The adaptations superimposed upon the basic 

 mammalian physiology of cetaceans to fit them 

 for life in the sea has caused certain changes in 

 respiration and circulation. Some of the larger 

 whales sound to great depths and can stay sub- 

 merged for more than an hour. They must 

 withstand great pressures, rapid pressure changes, 

 and long cessation of breathing. It seems clear 

 that modifications of the pattern of mammalian 

 physiology of breathing have taken place without 

 development of new or greatly different processes. 

 A concise review of certain facts of cetacean 

 physiology has been given by Jeffrey (1951). 



The Cetacea have no external hind limbs. 

 The forelimbs are more or less flipper-like and 

 serve as pectoral fins. Some whales have a dor- 

 sal fin, and some do not. Propulsion is by a tail 

 which is stroked up and down. The lobes or 

 flukes are horizontal. 



Breathing is done through openings in the top 

 of the head. In the toothed whales there is a 

 single opening; the baleen whales have two open- 

 ings. The lungs are exceptionally capacious. 



Some adult whales possess a few scattered 

 hairs over the head and lips, but many do not. 

 As far as is known, however, they all have hair 

 at some fetal stage. Teeth are more or less 

 uniformly pegshaped. They may be present in 

 both jaws or only in the lower jaw in the toothed 

 whales. In the baleen whales teeth are present 

 only in the unborn. Baleen is a series of horny 

 plates with frayed edges which grows down from 

 the roof of the mouth. It is manipulated in 

 conjunction with the huge tongue of these whales 

 in straining out the food. 



The external opening of the ear is minute, and 

 the canal is strongly occluded with wax. Never- 

 theless, a mounting body of recent evidence shows 

 that cetaceans have a finely developed auditory 

 sense and communicate by a series of whistles, 

 grunts, and underwater bellowings. Over the 



