EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 87 



familiar with the habits of the manatee in Nicaragua, says that 

 the species is quite common in the lagoons and streams in the 

 neighborhood of Bluefields, and that they are often seen as far as 

 75 or 80 miles inland in the larger streams, where they go to feed 

 on the so-called "manatee grass." In some streams they ascend 

 above the rapids, and appear to bring forth their young, one or 

 two in number, in the deeper pools above the rapids. 



They are frequently speared by the Indians of Central America, 

 who use their flesh, oil and skins to some extent. 



They feed mostly at night, and according to Mr. Harris some- 

 times come partly out of the water to eat the water grasses along- 

 shore. 



When surprised in shallow water they exhibit great activity, 

 getting out of the way quickly, in fact are more active under such 

 circumstances than the appearance of the animal would indicate. 

 Mr. Harris thinks that in Nicaragua at least they are more nu- 

 merous in fresh than in salt water. 



MEASUREMENTS OF MALE MANATEE AT THE NEW YORK 

 AQUARIUM. 



Received, September 3, 1903. Died, February 4, 1904. 



Weight 432 lbs. 



Length — Extreme 7 ft. 6 in. 



Snout to eye 7 



Snout to front base of flipper 6V 2 



Of flipper, inside measure 10 



Base of flipper to tip of tail 2 8 



Base of flipper to genital opening 1 9 



Tip of lower jaw to genital opening 3 3 



Girth — Head at eyes 1 11 



Neck 2 4^ 



Shoulders, back of flippers 4 5^ 



Base of tail 2 9 



Carpus 1 



Width across front of upper lip 63^ 



widest part of tail 1 11 



widest part of flipper 6 



A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death to be 

 bronchial pneumonia. The specimen was well nourished and 

 otherwise in good condition. 



