0/5 SUBKINGDOM VERTEBRATA. 



ORDER SIRENIA, 



Trichechidae. The Manatee, or Sea Cow of the Florida 

 coast, has, like the elephant, a short neck, dense bones, and 

 the nostril in the end of the snout. It has no hind limbs, 



Fig, 130. 



, f -'^ J 



TricKSchus mandtus, Manatee. 



and its fore limbs are flippers, with vestiges of nails on the 

 edges, enabling it to crawl on the shore. It feeds upon 

 aquatic plants, whence it is styled an "herbivorous whale." 



ORDER CETACEA. 



General Characteristics. The Cetaceans are swim- 

 ming, carnivorous mammals. They have nostrils on the top 



says: " One evening: my horse manifested uneasiness at a sound which approached 

 us while we were traveling in the thick jungle. A turn in the road soon brought UP to 

 a tame elephant, without an attendant. It was carrying a heavy timber which it had 

 balanced across its tusks, but the path being narrow, it was forced to bend its head 

 BO as to let the beam pass endways. The exertion and inconvenience led it to ry 

 Urmph I TTrmph ! in a dissatisfied tone, and it was this sound which had alarmed my 

 horse. The elephant, on seeing us halt, stopped, reconnoitered us for a moment, 

 flung down the timber, and forced itself back into the brushwood to let us pass. As 

 my horse still hesitated, the sagacious creature pressed still further one side, repeating 

 its cry of Urmph 1 in an encouraging tone, as if bidding us come on. Finally my 

 horse did so tremblingly, and when we were by, the elephant came out, lifted the 

 timber, balanced it on its tusks, and resumed its march, snorting discontentedly as 

 before." 



