204 THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAMMALS 



canus) on the South American coast and in the Antilles. A 

 third species (M. inunguis), so far as we know at present, 

 is found only in fresh water high up the Amazon. 



The Dugong (Halicore) (Fig. 45, p. 203) is distributed 

 from East Africa, along the shores of the Indian Ocean 

 and its islands, to North Australia. Three species of this 

 genus have been established — Halicore tabernaculi from 

 the Red Sea, H. dugong from the Indian Ocean, and H. 

 australis from Australia ; but it is doubtful how far these 

 forms are actually distinguishable. 



Fig. 46.— The Right Whale. 



(Balfena mysticetus.) 



[Flower and Lyd. llamm., p. 236.] 



Besides Manatus and Halicore, a third quite distinct 

 form of Sirenian was formerly an inhabitant of the North 

 Pacific This was Steller's Sea-cow (Rhytina stelleri), by 

 far the largest animal of the group, which was extermi- 

 nated by human agency about 1768. Fortunately recent 

 researches in Behring's Island have been successful in 

 supplying specimens of its skeleton for our principal 

 museums, and Steller, its discoverer, left to posterity a good 

 account of its habits and anatomy. 



