378 THE KOUND-TAILED MANATI. 



ders, and near the base of each foot, in the female, 

 there is a small teat. The skin is thick and hard, 

 and has a few hairs scattered over it. 



They are found in the African rivers, from Sene- 

 gal to the Cape ; and in abundance on some of the 

 Eastern coasts of South America. In the river of A- 

 mazonsjthey are often seen nearly a thousand leagues 

 from its mouth. They seem much more partial to 

 fresh or only brackish water, than to the sea. 



At times they are observed, in their frolicsome 

 moods, to leap to great heights above the surface ; 

 and they delight in shallow water near low land, 

 and in places secure from surges, where the tides 

 run gently. Marine plants seem to constitute 

 their principal food. They are taken by harpoons. 

 The Indians go out in small canoes (vvith the utmost 

 silence, for the animal is very quick of hearing), 

 carrying a harpoon, fastened to a strong cord of 

 several fathoms in length. When struck, the Ma- 

 nati swims off with the instrument of death in his 

 body ; and, when spent with pain and fadgue, again 

 rises to the surface, and is taken. The affection of 

 the parent for her young is as conspicuous in this as 

 in the last species. If a young one is with its mother 

 when she is struck by a fisherman, careless of her 

 own sufferings, she affectionately takes it, if not too 

 large, under her fins or feet, to protect it from her 

 own fate. But how cruelly do mankind reward 

 them for these tender ofhces ! the young, which will 

 never forsake its dam, even in the greatest distress, 

 is looked upon in no other light than ascertain prey*! 



* Tcnn. Quad. ii. 5il. 



