

VERTEBRATA. 



THE MANATEE. 



The S. attenuates, found at Cape Horn. 



The S. fuscui, described by Gray in the Zoology of the Erebus and Terror. 

 Ti S. ttratus, inhabiting the North Sea, and which has been taken at Holland and at Brest. 

 I'< >NT< >PORIA: Pontoporia, includes the P. Blainvillei, which has been found off 

 ■ V 



IMA : Jin", includes the I. Geoffroyii, a native of the shores of Upper Peru. 

 • PLATANISTA : Platanista, includes the Sou Sou, P. Gangetica, of India — the Susu 

 • Boffon, the Platanista of Pliny, the Dauphin du Gange of Cuvier. 



THE SIRENIA. 



Tin — ' animals resemble some of the Pachydcrmata, and especially the elephants : the nostrils 



in front of the snout, and are not used as blow-holes; the head is of moderate size, and the 



bones are dense and heavy. They inhabit the sea-shores, especially about the mouths of rivers, 



up which they Bometi s penetrate to some distance. They feed entirely upon sea-weeds and 



aquatic plants, and do not, as stated by some authors, quit the water to pasture on the banks. 



id frequently to support themselves in an upright position, with the upper part of the 



bod} the water, when they are said to present a somewhat human appearance at a distance, 



the illusion being assisted by the long whiskers which usually project from the upper lip, and the 



toral mammae of the females. It is supposed by Cuvier, and many other naturalists, that the 



lively imaginations of the ancient mariners raised upon this slight foundation the wonderful 



Btorii s of Tritons and Sirens, Mermen and Mermaids, that we meet with in the old writers. The 



also have contributed to the same superstitions. 



nia have been variously classed by different naturalists; we shall include them under 

 three genera: 



MANA FUS: ManatuSi — This includes the Manatee or Sea-Cow, M. Australia — the 



Lamani ■ Buffon; Lamantin cPAmerique of Cuvier. It is of a gray-black color, nine or ten 



long, and has vestiges of nails on the edges of the flippers, which arc used dexterously in 



creeping and carrying the young. This has caused these organs to be compared to hands, whence 



their name Manati or Manatee. They are gregarious, and generally go in troops. The young 



are placed in the center of the herd for protection, and on the approach of danger all unite for 



the common safety. It is alleged that, when one has been struck by a harpoon, its companions 



will tear ont the weapon, and they are so attached to their young that if the calf be taken the 



of the mother, from the r< cklessness with which her maternal affection leads her 



capture, [f the mother be captured, the young follow her to the shore, and fall 



an easy prey. The shallow hays of the Antilles and the quiet creeks of the South American 



ilarly in Guiana and the Brazils, are its favorite haunts. 



'!■ to* tris inhabits the Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Florida and the West Indies. 



i fifteen feet in length. 



