THE MANATEE. 295 



at its sides ; the lower lip is shorter, and more 

 straight than the upper, and both are lined internally 

 with short, hard, very thick hairs. The mouth is 

 not large ; the eyes are small. The only appear- 

 ance of ears are two small fissures, which penetrate 

 the skin, The swimming paws are much more free 

 in their motions than those of the ordinary cete ; 

 the fingers are felt through the skin, and they pos- 

 sess considerable power and motion. The thumb 

 has no nail ; the fingers have, though that of the 

 little finger is particularly small. The surface of 

 the body is of a greyish colour ; the skin is coarse- 

 grained, and very thick and strong, like a bull's 

 hide ; a few scattered and slender hairs appear upon 

 it, most numerous at the angle of the mouth, and 

 under the paws. The mammae, which are usually 

 but little developed, enlarge during the period of 

 lactation, and the milk is agreeable to the taste. 

 The number of the vertebrae and the ribs is vari- 

 ously stated by Sir E. Home and Baron Cuvier. 

 Both agree that the ribs are quite peculiar in their 

 form. 



The manners and dispositions of this animal are 

 stated to be inoffensive, mild, and amiable. Buffon 

 observes, that they are both intelligent and sociable, 

 naturally not afraid of man, but free in approaching 

 him, and following him with confidence. But they 

 have especially a kindly feeling for their fellows. They 

 usually associate in troops, and crowd together with 

 the young in the centre, as if to protect them from 

 harm, and when any danger besets them, each is 



