THE ROUND-TAILED MANATI. 177 



ing their meals they are so intent on their food, 

 that any one may go among them, and select out one 

 of their number. Their back and sides are generally 

 above water *. 



The head is small. The lips are double ; and, 

 near the junction of the two jaws, the mouth is 

 filled with white tubular bristles, which pre- 

 vent the food from running out witli the water, 

 and also serve for cutiing teeth, to divide the 

 strong roots of the sea-plants. Two flat white 

 bones with undulated surfaces, one in each jaw, sup- 

 ply the place of grinders. — The eyes are extremely 

 small, as are also the orifices for the ears. 1 he tail 

 is thick and strong ; ending in a black, stiff fin. 

 The skin is thick, hard, and black, and full of ine- 

 qualities like the bark of oak ; beneath it there is a 

 thick blubber. 



The flesh is coarser than beef, and does not soon 

 putrify. The young ones taste like veal -j^. 



THE ROUXD-TAILED MANATI 





These animals are about six feet long ; and 

 three or four in circumference, though some- 

 times much more. They have a short thick neck, 

 small eyes, and thick lips ; are very thick about the 

 shoulders, and taper gradually to the tail, which is 

 broad and round. The feet are placed at the shoul- 



* Penn. Quad. ii. 507. t Grieve, \3^. 



X Synonyms. — Trichcnus Munatus. Linn. — Lamantin, Biiffon, 



Adanson. — Sea Cow. Adunson. — Round- tailed Manati, Pcnn. 



Shaiv's Gen. Zool. pL Qd' 



Vol. I. N 



