VII. THE SEA COWS 



When the Russians first discovered Alaska and began 

 to send expeditions to investigate what has now proved 

 to be a valuable possession, they found alongshore and 

 in the sheltered bays herds of huge animals resembling 

 seals or gigantic sea lions. The real discoverer was 

 Steller, and the animal was named Steller's rhytina in his 

 honor. 



The rhytina was a sea cow, differing in many respects 

 from the seals. It belonged to the manatees, in which the 

 tail formed a broad caudal fin instead of feet as in the sea 

 lion. The rhytina was a magnificent specimen of a large 

 animal, resembling a manatee in general shape, but 

 having a whalelike tail. Large individuals attained a 

 length of thirty-five feet and a weight of nearly four tons. 

 Without means of defense, heavy, almost colossal, living 

 on land as well as in the water, and browsing on the sea- 

 weed alongshore, the rhytina was a conspicuous mark for 

 the whites, who proceeded to destroy it, partly in wanton 

 sport, and partly to supply the larder. 



It is well to be charitable, but there is every reason to 

 believe that the great sea cows, one of the wonders of 

 the animal world, were wiped out of existence to gratify 

 the brutal pleasure of ignorant Russian sailors, as in a few 

 years after its discovery this animal became extinct. To-day 

 specimens are extremely rare, and the skeletons occasion- 

 ally found bring large sums. There was an excellent one 



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