398 



VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 



are evidently largely homoplastic, or parallel adaptations to a similar 

 habitat. Both dugongs and manatees are large, almost hairless mam- 

 mals, with hind limbs absent, and with the tail flattened into the 

 semblance of a caudal fin or a fluke. The nostrils are on the upper 

 surface of the snout; there are no clavicles; the stomach is complex 

 and resembles that of the un- 

 gulates; the testes are abdomi- 

 nal in position; the mammae 

 are pectoral as in elephants. 



The manatees (Fig. 204) 

 are fairly abundant in fresh 

 waters along the Atlantic 

 coasts of North America and 

 Africa. They are said to be 

 especially numerous among the 

 lagoons of the Florida Ever- 

 glades. The use of their flesh 

 as meat has been strongly 

 urged; for they feed upon noth- 

 ing but sea-weeds, of which 

 there is an inexhaustible sup- 

 ply. The flesh is said to com- 

 pare favorably with beef. The 

 manatees have but six cervical 



x^rtphrff*- thprP nrP rnnnv FlG ' 204. Florida Manatee, Trichechus 



\ertebrse, tnere are as many Mirostris (Redrawn after Fuertes.) 

 as twenty molar teeth, which 



seem to continue to increase during life. In these two respects they 

 are unique among mammals. 



The dugong (Fig. 205), Halicore, is an oriental and Australian 

 species, with whale-like tail-flukes instead of the rhomboidal type 

 of tail paddle seen in the manatee. It is more extensively specialized 

 for aquatic life than the manatee, for the nostrils are more dorsal, 

 the tail is more fish-like and the digits have no claws. It is said 

 that the dugong is responsible for most of the mermaid legends, for 

 when the female holds her young to her pectoral breast by means of 

 one flipper while swimming with the other, she presents a slightly 

 human resemblance. 



ORDER 13. HYRACOIDEA (CONEYS). This small order consists of 

 but one living genus of primitive ungulates. The coney (Fig. 206) 



