398 SIRENIA. 



only the two fore-limbs, which are developed into fin-like flippers ; but 

 the skin so completely covers the fingers, that all separate movement of 

 the joints is impossible, traces of nails being the only external. indication 

 of the internal division of the hand. The tail, representing the hinder- 

 limbs, ends in a fin. One striking peculiarity exists in the form of the 

 female Sirenia; this peculiarity is the position of the mammas, which are 

 placed on the breast and between the fore-limbs, and which are more 

 prominent than in the other marine mammals. It requires, however, 

 very great powers of imagination to see in these clumsy and awkward 

 creatures any resemblance to the human form divine ; and perhaps it is 

 the same power of imagination which has led to the assertion that these 

 creatures live in strict monogamy. 



The Sirenia are much more sea-animals than the seals are ; they very 

 seldom protrude their unwieldy bodies above the surface of the water, 

 while their movement on dry land — on to which they never emerge 

 voluntarily — is slow, and requires great exertion, as the fore-limbs are 

 too weak to bear the weight of the body, which is much less flexible 

 than that of the seals. They swim and dive excellently, but avoid deep 

 water, preferring places where the marine plants, weeds and grasses, on 

 which they feed, can be found. They are very voracious, and like all 

 voracious animals, heavy, lazy, and dull. They do nothing but eat and 

 sleep, and may therefore be described as peaceful and harmless. Both 

 sexes display great mutual affection, and the female is a devoted mother, 

 clasping the little one to her bosom with one of her fore-flippers. In 

 danger or in pain, tears roll from their eyes, and they utter a weak, dull 

 moan, which somewhat resembles that of a human being in pain. 



The Sirenia constitute only one family, Manatid.-e, which is divided 

 into three genera. 



I.— GENUS MANATUS. 



The two species of this genus inhabit both shores of the Atlantic ; 

 one ranging from the gulf of Mexico to North Brazil, and ascending the 

 Amazon River ; while the other is found on the West Coast of Africa. 

 The genus is distinguished from the following one by the shape of the 

 tail-fin, which is round, and by the thick fleshy dirk which terminates 

 the muzzle. The body is covered with short, thin hairs which become 



