Florida Manatee 
of much expansion. Tail flat and widened, then tapering 
to a point, flipper rather long (1 foot), eyes small, skin with 
a few scattered hairs. Colour bluish black, somewhat paler 
below and gray on the muzzle. 
Range. Formerly the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts of the United 
States, now restricted to rivers and lagoons of south-eastern 
Florida and becoming very scarce. 
The exact number of species of manatee which occur on the 
coasts of the New World is a matter of some doubt, but it is pretty 
certain that the Florida manatee is different from the Trichechus 
americanus of South America. 
Unlike the whales, manatees are not lovers of the open ocean, 
but remain close along shore, feeding in the bays and lagoons 
on the various water plants and grasses. From the meagre accounts 
that we have of these animals in their native haunts they seem to 
spend their time lazily floating or wallowing about with the upper 
part of the head generally exposed. Those kept in captivity usually 
rest on the bottom of their tanks and rise to the surface for air 
at periods of from two to six minutes. They accomplish this 
‘‘with the least perceptible movement of the tail and flapping 
motion of the paddles, raising the upper part of the body until 
the head reaches the surface, when the air is admitted through 
the nostril flap valves which are closely shut after the operation.” * 
They seemed ill at ease when the water was drawn off and were 
apparently unable to progress on land. When feeding they seemed 
to fan the strands of grass and sea weed into the mouth by means 
of the copious bristles which surround it. 
It is sad to contemplate the extinction of these curious beasts 
which present so many interesting peculiarities to the naturalist, 
and problems in evolution which he has yet to solve. Their 
harmlessness would seem to warrant their preservation, but it 
seems on the other hand to aid in their destruction. As fast as 
the settlement of the country makes their haunts more accessible 
their numbers lessen and, being tropical in their nature, the frosts 
and cold svells which have of recent years prevailed in Florida 
with such ruin to the orange groves have also played sad havoc 
with the remaining small band of manatees. . 
* Crane. ‘“ Proc. Zool. Soc.,’’ London, 1880, p. 456. 
im) 
