ORDER VI. THE CETACEA. 235 



Family I. The IlEnnivouous Cete. Tlicy differ from tlie True "Wiialcs 

 in the absence of blow-boles, but have nostrils in the snout opening upwards. 

 Their herbivorous character is determined by their teeth, wiiich have flat 

 crowns. Tiiere is scarcely any neck to separate the bead from the body, 

 which is fish-like, having a horizontal tail instead of posterior extremities. 

 Their mamma; are pectoral, and their skin is nearly destitute of hair. This 

 group is divided into three genera, the first of which delights to forage and 

 sport in the warm, shallow bays of the West India Islands and South 

 America, while the second seeks the cold regions of the north, and ^^'ature 

 has established the home of the third in the Oriental Seas. 



Genus ^NIaxatus. The chief generic character of the iVIanatus is derived 

 from its swimming paws, which have four flat nails attached to the fin. 

 The tail is oval and long, being nearly one fourth of the length of the body. 



21. Americanus. — The INIanatee of the AVcst Indies. The common 

 length of this animal is about fifteen feet, although it often attains and even 

 surpasses the dimensions of twenty feet, with a weight of not less than three 

 or four tons. The body is of a grayish color ; the skin thick, strong, and 

 coarse grained, having a few scattered and slender hairs upon it, which are 

 the most numerous under the paws and at the angles of the mouth. This 

 species is found in the ^\'est Indies, and in many of the rivers and creeks of 

 South America. Numerous herds of them formerly frcrpiented the mouths 

 of the great Rivers Orinoco and Amazon, often ascending hundreds of 

 miles, visiting their tributary streams, and animating the fresh-water lakes 

 connected with them by their sportive leapings ; for it seems they amuse 

 themselves, like the true whales, by often throwing themselves far out of the 

 w'ater, apparently' remaining suspended for a moment in the air. 



They once abounded near Cayenne, and according to the historian Binet, 

 their flesh, which was deemed excellent food, was daily sold in the market 

 for about six cents a pound ; but constant persecution either exterminated 

 them, or compelled them to seek some safer retreat. All authors agree in 

 testifying to their delicacy as an article of food, affirming that it has, when 

 roasted, the flavor of pork and the taste of veal. In capturing them, they 

 arc approached, according to the statement of Ovicdo, in a small boat, and 

 struck with a large harpoon, to which a strong and long cord is attached. 

 As soon as struck they make great cftbrts to escape, carrying the hai-poon 

 and cord along with them ; to the extreniity of the latter a cork or piece 

 of light wood is affixed, which serves as a buoy, and indicates the movements 

 of the wounded animal. The victim being thus seized, its assailants return 

 to the shore, bringing with them the end of the rope, and when the manatee 

 becomes exhausted, they draw it in and despatch it. 



In habit and disposition these animals are social and amiable, and, accord- 



