DOLPHINS, PORPOISES 



sarily choose the night for the purpose. When sleeping 

 he always floats along with the current, his muzzle above 

 water, and so is an easy target for the skilled harpoon- 

 thrower. But by such means these valuable creatures are 

 only caught one at a time, and the aim of the hunters is 

 to make a " bag " ; therefore they prefer to surprise a 

 whole herd. 



Manatee-hunting is just the reverse of inia-harpooning ; 

 the latter, we have seen, must be done suddenly and 

 swiftly, before the capture of one of the animals has 

 frightened the rest away; whereas if one manatee of a 

 herd be struck, the rest appear in a moment. As soon 

 as the blood of one of them begins to flow, the others take 

 it as a signal that one of their kinsfolk is in trouble, and 

 flock round him, affording one of the most pathetic sights 

 in nature ; all the herd moaning and crying, some trying 

 to drag out the harpoon, others seizing the line in their 

 teeth and endeavouring to bite it through. On such an 

 occasion the whole herd is entirely at the mercy of the 

 hunters, for the unwounded animals may be relied upon 

 not to leave their brothers to their fate. 



The flesh is rich and tasty ; some people say it re- 

 sembles beef, others that they would not know it from 

 pork. An important characteristic is that it will keep 

 firm and sweet for a long while ; no small advantage when 

 we bear in mind that the manatee's favourite home is 

 round about the equator. The leather of the tanned 

 hide is exceedingly durable, and is now becoming costly in 

 Europe. 



The Indian harpooners still believe many of the quaint 



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