DR. J. MURIE ON THE MANATEE. 31 
(see figs. 2 & 3, Pl. VI.): so far Prof. Garrod’s comments on the deadness of my illus- 
trations may apply. The change with death, moreover, considerably alters the physi- 
ognomy, although the drawings given in my former memoir (pl. xix. fig. 5), in the 
main, are true to nature— with which compare the present sketch, fig. 1, Pl. VI. from 
life. In the latter plate I have also depicted various views (figs. 7-11) of the inani- 
mate head ; therein the upper lip falls forwards and laps outwardly, and in some posi- 
tions almost hides the lower jaw. 
Both in the live animal and again in the flaccid carcass I can verify the independent 
observations of Prof. Garrod and Dr. Chapman concerning the great mobility and spe- 
cial use of the inner circumscribed bristle-clad portions of the upper lip. Undoubtedly 
these are tactile and prehensile, and have been lucidly described and figured by the 
former anatomist! ; while the latter aptly remarks’, “fanning, as it were, the food into 
their mouths by means of the bristles situated on their upper and lower lips, these 
bristles spreading out when in use so as to look very much like small fans.” Garrod’s 
simile of a caterpillar devouring a leaf is even more appropriate. The same writer 
raises issue with my interpretation of the functional structure of the upper lip. He 
says, “In the living animal their erectile tissue is distended with blood on most occa- 
sions, especially whilst feeding ; and the pads are by this means directed inwards, towards 
one another, in such a way that the deep median notch which they go to form is even 
deeper, and the bristles meet across the middle line”®. But whilst supporting Prof. 
Vrolik’s* view, he so far modifies this as to admit, with me, that the levatores labii pro- 
prii muscles act strongly in concert. I myself had only taken exception to Vrolik’s 
ayerring the upper lip to be solely (or, as I had translated from the Dutch text, “ plainly’’) 
erectile, in contradistinction to its manifest and peculiarly fleshy character. Neither 
Garrod nor Vrolik seem to me to have examined minutely the parts and structures in 
question, nor allowed sufficiently for the muscular efficacy of the action, irrespective 
of purely vascular erection. Remembering that the lower lip of Manatus is relatively 
little used in the aforesaid lateral grasping action, and trying the experiment on one’s 
self, viz. fixing the lower lip, it is not difficult by muscular force alone to imitate the 
Manatee’s labial habit—of course in a minor degree and with due allowance for differ- 
ence in oral construction. To take another example, the delicately tactile and pre- 
hensile tip of the Elephant’s proboscis all allow are under control of the innumerable 
minute muscular fibres, the nerves and blood-vessels rather intensifying tactile power 
than solely conducing to mobility. Similarly I regard the Manatee’s muzzle as to all 
intents and purposes a true curtailed trunk or proboscis, but differing in preponderance 
1 Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. x. p. 139, pl. xxviii. * L. c. p. 459. 3 L. ¢. p. 1388. 
* Bijdrage tot der Natuur- en Ontleedkundige Kennis yan den Manatus Americanus, 1852, p. 59. 
° I was induced to this trial from haying observed a French peasant with an almost malformed mouth, 7. e. 
a projecting nipple on each side and underlying lower lip, faintly recalling the Manatee’s oral region. Hvyery 
time the man spoke, these lateral projections approached and Sirenian peculiarity was manifest. 
