86 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL. SOCIETY. 



in this connection, are Halicore dugong of the Indian Ocean and 

 Halicore australis of the northern arid eastern shores of Australia. 

 A species which became extinct during the past century was Stel- 

 ler's sea-cow (Rhytina stellerii), of the Commander Islands, 

 Kamtschatka. 



The Aquarium specimen was the only one in captivity in this 

 country at the time. The Zoological Society of London has a 

 small specimen from the Amazon. 



In Florida Manatus latirostris is found in both fresh and salt 

 water, as is the habit with this genus elsewhere. 



The manatee is an animal which has not usually lived long in 

 captivity. The specimen at the Aquarium was placed in a tile- 

 lined pool 20 feet long and 13 feet wide, having a depth of 3 feet 

 of water ; the water was kept at a temperature of about 70 degrees, 

 and renewed daily, salt and fresh water being pumped in on alter- 

 nate days. This manatee could not be induced to eat lettuce, cab- 

 bage, and other vegetables usually given to such animals in captiv- 

 ity, but fed eagerly on eel-grass {Zoster a marina) and pond- 

 weed, which were supplied constantly. It became quite tame and 

 raised its head and neck completely out of water in taking food 

 from the hands of Mr. Washington DeNyse, who devoted much 

 care to it. It was more or less active in the morning until feed- 

 ing-time ; after eating a peck or more of eel-grass, it slept on the 

 bottom, rising to breathe at intervals of 5 to 8 minutes. Although 

 the tank was provided with a sloping bottom at one end, the ani- 

 mal showed no inclination to come out of the water. When the 

 water was drawn entirely out of the pool the manatee did not 

 seem to take advantage of the condition to breathe with any 

 greater frequency. The specimen was a male, J 1 /* feet long. 

 The manatee reaches a length of at least 13 feet. It was shipped 

 in a narrow tank containing nearly enough water to float it, an 

 important consideration in the case of sirenians, which have bones 

 of exceptional weight. 



As a matter of interest to those not acquainted with its charac- 

 teristics it may be stated that it is a warm-blooded, air-breathing, 

 plant-eating, milk-giving, water animal. It has bones of the 

 greatest density known among mammals, no front teeth, no hind 

 limbs, no hip bones, and a huge beaver-like tail. It has six bones 

 in the neck, whereas all other mammals, excepting the sloth, but 

 including the giraffe and man, have seven. 



Another interesting feature is the position of the milk glands, 

 which are two in number and are placed on the breast. 



A recent visitor to the Aquarium, Mr. Beverly J. Harris, who is 



