570 MANATIS AND DUGONGS. 



and are so closely connected by fossil forms, that it seems preferable to follow Mr. 

 Blanford in regarding them as members of a single family the Halicoridce. 



THE MANATIS. 

 Genus Manatus. 



The manatis so named from the hand-like use of the flippers when nursing 

 the young are characterised by the nostrils being situated at the apex of the 



AMERICAN MANATI (Jo nat. size). 



muzzle, by the rounded margin of the expanded tail, and the usual presence of 

 three minute rudimentary nails on each of the nippers. In the skull, the beak and 

 extremity of the lower jaw are comparatively small, and but very slightly bent 

 downwards. The incisor teeth are rudimentary, being concealed beneath the horny 

 plates of the mouth, and disappearing before the animal becomes adult. The cheek- 

 teeth, of which eleven are developed on each side of the jaws, have squared crowns, 

 with transverse ridges, thus presenting some resemblance to the lower teeth of the 

 tapir. Generally there are seldom more than six of these teeth in use at the same 

 time on one side of each jaw ; the front ones falling out before those further back 



