CETACEA. 109 



FAMILY I. 



CETACEA HERBIVORA. 



THE teeth of Herbivorous Cetacea have flat crowns ; this determines their 

 mode of life, and the latter induces them to leave the water frequently, to seek 

 for pasture on shore. They have two mammse on the breast, and hairy mus- 

 tachios ; two circumstances which, when observed from a distance, as they 

 raise the anterior part of the body vertically from the water, may give them 

 some resemblance to human beings, and have probably occasioned those fabu- 

 lous accounts of Tritons and Sirens which some travellers pretend to have 

 seen. 



MANATUS, Cuvier. 



The Lamantins, or rather the Manati, have an oblong body, terminated by 

 an elongated oval fin ; the grinders, eight in number throughout, have a square 

 crown, marked with two transverse elevations. Vestiges of nails are discover- 

 able on the edges of their fins, which they employ with tolerable dexterity 

 in carrying their young, and in creeping; hence the comparison of these 

 organs with hands, and the name of Manatus applied to the animal, of which 

 Lamantin is a corruption. From their manner of living, they are also called 

 sea cows, mermaids, SfC. 



They are found near the mouths of rivers in the hottest parts of the At- 

 lantic Ocean, and it appears that those of the American rivers are specifically 

 different from those of Africa. They grow to the length of fifteen feet. 

 Their flesh is used as food. 



HALICORE, Illiger*. 



Grinders composed of two cones laterally united; the teeth implanted in the 

 incisive bone are permanent, and increase to such an extent as to become true 

 pointed tusks, but covered by thick fleshy lips, bristled with mustachios. 

 The body is elongated, and the tail terminated by a crescent-shaped fin. 

 One species only is known, the 



Hal. dugong; Siren; Sea Cow, &c. (The Dugong.) It inhabits the 

 Indian Ocean, and is frequently confounded by travellers with the Manatus. 



STELLERUS, Cuvier. 



The Stelleri appear to have but a single compound grinder on each side, 

 with a flat crown, and bristled with plates of enamel. Their fins have not 

 even the little nails observed on those of the Manatus. According to Steller, 

 the first, and hitherto the only one who has described them, their stomach also 

 is much more simple. 



One species only is known, which is confined to the north part of the Pacific 

 Ocean. 



* Halicore, Maid of the Sea. 



