THE MERMAID. 



233 



manatee is chiefly found in rivers and fresh-water lagoons ; 

 and secondly, the dugong accords with ^Elian's description 

 of the creature with a woman's face in that it has " prickles 

 instead of hairs," whilst the manatee has no such stiff 

 bristles. 



FIG. l8. THE MANATEE. ITS USUAL POSITION 



In the case of either of these two animals being mistaken 

 for a mermaid, however, " distance " must " lend enchant- 

 ment to the view," and a sailor must be very impressible 

 and imaginative who, even after having been deprived for 

 many months of the pleasure of females' society, could be 



