II58 MANATEES AND DUGONGS 



a family by itself. The whole are, however, so nearly allied, and are so closely 



connected by fossil forms, that it seems preferable to follow 3 

 Classification Blanford i n regarding them as members of a single family the 



Halicoridce. 



THE MANATEES 

 Genus Manatus 



The manatees-so named from the hand-like use of the nippers when nursing 

 the young are characterized by the nostrils being situated at the apex of the muz- 



AMERICAN MANATEE. 



(One- twentieth natural size.) 



zle, by the rounded margin of the expanded tail, and the -usual presence of three 

 minute rudimentary nails on each of the flippers. In the skull, the beak and ex- 

 tremity of the lower jaw are comparatively small, and but very slightly bent down- 

 ward. The incisor teeth are rudimentary, being concealed beneath the horny plates 

 of the mouth, and disappearing before the animal becomes adult. The cheek-teeth, 

 of which eleven are developed on each side of the jaws, have squared crowns, with 



