Till: MANATKF.S: AHUNDANCE. 1 L>M 



graminivora, but the attack must be made, one may say, in person, subject to all the dangers 

 attendant ii|ion an encounter with those weapons which a long course of selection has developed 

 ill tin 1 prey. Man ensnares alike the lion and the deer by the devices of his brain, with lit tie or no 

 danger to himself. Notwithstanding, the fleetest animals oftentimes csca|>e him and the strongest 

 intimidate him; but such drowsy beasts as the Sirenians fall helpless victims to his strategy. The 

 past century witnessed the extinction of one of these animals, the Hhytina, through no other 

 apparent agent than man. The inquiry intrudes itself, Will the Manatees succumb to the same 

 fate which overtook their huge relative! 



It is undoubtedly a fact that the American Manatees an- much less abundant in many regions 

 than they were at the time of the discovery of America. They have withdrawn before the advance 

 of civilization into the more inaccessible places out of the reach of man. 



In regard to the Floridan Manatee, the statement of Harlan (whoobtaiiied.it from Dr. Burrows), 

 made so laie as 18lio, namely, that tin Indian could readily obtain a dozen in a year, 1 is now doubt- 

 fully true. The statements of Mr. Stearns, given in the early part of this essay, show that it has 

 disappeared from some localities in Florida within a comparatively recent period. Nevertheless, 

 the Florida Manatee cannot yet be considered as threatened with extinction, and in Southwestern 

 Florida, if we may lielicve Mr. Maynard, is still abundant. S|>ecimens art' received from time to 

 time for our uiiksenms and zoological gardens, and to satisfy the curiosity of the gaping crowds at 

 the circus. The prices obtained for specimens of both American Manatees in this country and in 

 Kngland show, however, that they are not to be obtained without difficulty. 1 



Gundlach refers, to the abundance of the Manatee in Cuba in the following t-rms: " In former 

 times very abundant ; at present much reduced in numbers, but not rare though difficult to capliiie." 3 



According to Dr. Von Frant/Jus, the South American Manatee was abundant along the western 

 shores of the Gulf of Mexico, especially in Costa llica. "They are still very common," he says, 

 'along the Atlantic coast, where they find abundant nourishment in the numerous lagoons (Haff 

 IriltluHt/ni), and likewise the needed protection ; they pass into the rivers and are found abundantly 

 in San Juan and neighboring streams, the Uio Colorado, Sarapiqui, and San Carlos. Apparently 

 they are prevented from going lar into the San Carlos on account of the rapids which occur near 

 its month, and hence are not found in the Kio Frio nor in Lake Nicaragua itself." 4 



ABUNDANCE OF THK SOUTH AMERICAN MANATEE. In relation to the present abundance 

 of Manatees in South America, it is perhaps unnecessary for me to enter into details here. 

 I'.randt has reviewed the subject at length quite recently, giving many particulars.'' His investi- 

 gations show that in many regions, particularly about the mouths of rivers and in other places 

 \\heie sufficient shelter is wanting, the Sea-cows are disappearing or have become entirely extinct. 

 In the upper waters of the rivers, however, where the native Indians are few and civili/ation has 

 not reached, little diminution is probable. 



I'iKiiiAiiiLiTV OK EXTINCTION. Putting all the facts together, it seems evident that not many 

 cent uiics will pass before Manatees will be extremely, rare, especially in our own country. More 

 specimens should be accumulated in our museums, both of the entire animal and of its bones, and 

 its wanton destruction .should cease. 



MODES OK CAI'TUHE. The methods of capturing Manatees are numerous. In Florida, Mr. 

 Goode informs me, strong rope nets, with large mesh, are often employed. The details of this 



1 1 1 \i:i \ s : Fauna Americana, 1825, p. 277. 



Trail*. Zoological Swii-ty London, xi, 1*0, |>. 21. Howards' <Jui<le to Florida. 1"7:>. |> 



*GUNI>L\cil: Hi-vistu y Cat. lie lot* Muinili-nm riihanos. Kr|x-rt. FiMro-nal. ilr Ciiliii. ii, n<>. '-', 1*'*, P- 5fl 



Vox KKANTZICS: Sangi-tliM-ro Cita liii-as. Arcliiv fur Xatnr^wM-liirlite. xxxv, i. IrtSH (f), pp. 304-ll>. 



'UiiANirr: Symbol* Sirviiolojru-H'. (W. iii. l-*il-'<^, p. 2.">:. 



