DUGONG. ORDINARY CETACEA. 125 



their paws, which, having a coarse resemblance to hands, have 

 obtained for these animals the name of Manatus t which has 

 been corrupted into Lamantin. Their head is terminated by a 

 fleshy muzzle, furnished with hair^nd they have eight molars 

 with square crowns, throughout. They inhabit the warm 

 regions of the Atlantic Ocean, near the mouths of rivers, wjiich 

 they sometimes ascend to a considerable distance : they live in 

 troops, often land and are readily approached. They display the 

 greatest attachment for their companions. The Lamantin is some- 

 times fifteen feet in length. The flesh is eaten. 



29. Dugouts, Hulicore Dugoiig, inhabit the Indian Seas, 

 and are distinguished from the Lamantins by their elongated 

 body, the crescent-form of their caudal fins, and the pointed tusks 

 that protrude from the upper jaw. 



FAMILY OF CETACEA ORDINARIA, OR BLOWERS. 



30. The Cetacea of this group differ from those of the pre- 

 ceding by having their mammae near the anus, instead of being 

 on the chest, by the garniture of the mouth, the teeth, when 

 they exist, being pointed ; by their carneous regimen ; by the 

 position of the nares, &c.; but what especially distinguishes them, 

 is the singular apparatus which has obtained for them the name 

 of Blowers. 



31. The great masses of water that these animals take into 

 their vast mouth with their prey, are thrown out through the 

 nasal fossa?, in the form of jets which may be perceived at a long 

 distance. For this purpose the blowers move their tongue and 

 jaws as if they would swallow the liquid ; while at the same time 

 the commencement of the oesophagus closes with so much force 

 as to prevent its descent to the stomach, and retains it in the 

 pharynx. The veil of the palate at once intercepts the commu- 

 nication between the mouth and the swallow, and the powerful 

 muscles which surround this latter cavity, by contracting, expel 

 the water, which finding no outlet except through the posterior 

 nares, passes through them and accumulates in two great mem- 

 branous pouches, situate between the extremity of the bony por- 

 tion of the nasal canal and the skin. A fleshy valve, arranged 

 so as to rise up when the water presses from below upwards, 



29. How are Dugongs distinguished from Lamantins ? 



30. In what particulars do animals of the family of Ordinary Cetacea 

 differ from the Herbivorous Cetacea '/ 



31. What is the anatomical arrangement which enables the Blowers to 

 avoid swallowing the water they take into the mouth? What becomes of 

 the water after it passes through the posterior nares ? What prevents the 

 water in the reservoirs from returning to the pharynx, when they contract ? 



