398 HISTORY OF 



external appearance of himier legs, but, when examined inler- 

 iially, will be found to want them altogether. The Manati is 

 somewhat shaped in the head and the body like a seal ; it has 

 also the fore legs or hands pretty much in the same manner, 

 short and webbed, but with four claws only ; these also are 

 shorter in proportion than in the former animal, and placed 

 nearer the head ; so that it can scarcely assist its motions upon 

 land. But it is in the hinder parts that it chiefly diiTers from 

 all others of the seal kind ; for the tail is perfectly that of a fish, 

 being spread out broad like a fan, and wanting even the vestiges 

 of those bones which make the legs and feet in others of its kind. 

 The largest of these are about twenty-six feet in length ; the 

 skin is blackish, very tough and hard ; when cut as black as 

 ebony ; and there are a few hairs scattered, like bristles, of about 

 an inch long. The eyes are very small, in proportion to the 

 animal's head ; and the ear-holes, for it has no external ears, are 

 so narrow as scarcely to admit a pin's head. The tongue is so 

 short, that some have pretended it has none at all ; and the teeth 

 are composed only of two solid white bones, running the whole 

 length of both jaws, and formed merely for chewing, and not 

 tearing its vegetable food. The female has breasts placed for- 

 ward, like those of a woman ; and she brings forth but one at a 

 time : this she holds with her paws to her bosom ; there it sticks, 

 and accompanies her wherever she goes. 



This animal can scarcely be called Amphibious, as it nevei 

 entirely leaves the water, only advancing the head out of the 

 stream to reach the grass on the river sides. Its food is entirely 

 upon vegetables ; and, therefore, it is never found far in the open 

 sea, but chiefly in the large rivers of South America; and often 

 above two thousand miles from the ocean. It is also found in 

 the seas near Kamtschatka, and feeds upon the weeds that grow 

 near the shore. There are likewise level greens at the bottom 

 of some of the Indian bays, and there the manaties are harmlessly 

 seen grazing among turtles ai'.d other crustaceous fishes, ncithef 

 giving nor fearing any disturbance. These animals, when un- 

 molested, keep together in large companies, and surround their 

 young ones.' They bring forth most commonly in autumn ; and 

 it is supposed they go with young eighteen months, for the time 

 of generation is in spring. 



1 Acta Fetropolitana. 



