AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 275 



But we are now come to a creature that not 

 only wants the external appearance of hinder 

 legs, but, when examined internally, will be 

 found to want them altogether. The manati is 

 somewhat shaped in the head and the body like 

 a seal ; it has also the fore-legs or hands pretty 

 much in the same manner, short and webbed, but 

 with four claws only: these also are shorter in 

 proportion than in the former animal, and placed 

 nearer the head, so that they can scarcely assist 

 its motions upon land. But it is in the hinder 

 parts that it chiefly differs from all others of the 

 seal kind ; for the tail is perfectly that of a fish, 

 being spread out broad like a fan, and wanting 

 even the vestiges of those bones which make the 

 legs and feet in others of its kind. The largest 

 of these are about twenty-six feet in length ; the 

 skin is blackish, very tough and hard ; when cut, 

 as black as ebony ; and there are a few hairs 

 scattered, like bristles, of about an inch long. 

 The eyes are very small in proportion to the ani* 

 mal's head ; and the ear-holes, for it has no ex-, 

 ternal ears, are so narrow as scarcely to admit a 

 pin's head. The tongue is so short, that some 

 have pretended it has none at all ; and the teeth 

 are composed only of two solid white bones, run- 

 ing the whole length of both jaws, and formed 

 merely for chewing, and not tearing its vegetable 

 food. The female has breasts placed forward, 

 like those of a woman ; and she brings forth but 

 one at a time : this she holds with her paws to 

 her bosom ; there it sticks, and accompanies her 

 wherever she goes. 



