THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 223 
Then there is the Hog-fish (Zabrus flavus, L.?), of 
singular beauty, shaped somewhat like a perch, with 
silvery grey scales; the head marked all over with 
streaks of brilliant violet blue, fantastically arranged, 
somewhat like the stripes upon the head of the 
Zebra. Still, however, even here there is some 
deformity ; at least, every thing does not accord with 
our habitual ideas of comeliness; these beauties are 
set off, as by a foil, by the visage of the Cat-fish 
(Stlurus catus), a creature of remarkably hideous 
aspect, but which is esteemed as food. 
In some of the quiet nooks and sheltered bays 
of these lovely islands, where the vegetation is green 
and luxuriant to the water’s edge, we may catch 
a sight of a herd of Manatees, or Sea-Cows. These 
animals are usually classed with the Whales, but 
they seem, indeed, to be much more intimately con- 
nected with the Pachydermata, an order that con- 
tains the Elephant and Hippopotamus. The form is 
long and tapering, but plump, and has been com- 
pared to that of a filled wine-skin or leather bottle. 
The hinder feet are altogether wanting, but the fore 
limbs assume the appearance of broad flat fins or 
flippers, the fingers of which are not separated ex- 
ternally, but can be distinctly felt through the skin; 
and the nails or claws by which the paw is termi- 
nated, sufficiently indicate their presence. These 
creatures are perfectly inoffensive in their manners, 
timid, and retiring; they delight in secluded places, 
shallow creeks, and particularly the mouths of the 
great South American rivers, often proceeding many 
tniles up the country. For such situations they are 
