CHAPTER X 



THE ORDER OF SEA-COWS 



SIREmA 



In certain warm and deep rivers of the tropics and sub-tropics, where water plants grow abun- 

 dantly and all nature seems at peace, there live certain species of water mammals of strange 

 form and habits. The manatees and dugongs differ so widely from even their nearest relatives 

 in other Orders, that it is not an easy matter to introduce them. 



The body of a Sirenian is like that of a long-bodied seal. The neck is very large, but extends 

 straight forward, and terminates in a small, blunt-ended head with very small eyes and lips 

 so extensible and mobile in the manipulation of food that the artist who tries to draw their moods, 

 and tenses soon finds himself quite bewildered. There are no incisor or canine teeth, and the ser- 

 rated molars are intended only for the bruising and cutting of tender plants. 



There are front flippers of good dimensions, but they are wellnigh useless, and about as- 

 shapely and graceful as a pair of old shoes. Apparently they are made for use in gesturing 

 rather than in work, for when the animal rests upon the ground, the flippers break squarely at 

 two joints, and are folded under the body, backs downward! There are times, however, when 

 the flippers are of some use in feeding, in holding food and conveying it to the mouth. Instead 

 of hind legs, there is a broad, flat tail, nearly as wide as the body of the animal at its widest 

 point. The skin is almost as naked as that of an elephant, and about one inch in thickness. 

 When twisted and dried strips of it make practicable canes. The flesh is well-flavored, and 

 wherever taken is eaten with relish. 



Usually the Sirenians live in the lower reaches of rivers that flow into the sea, sometimes in 

 water that is bitterly salt, frequently in brackish water, but in most cases quite above tidal influ- 

 ence, where the water is fresh and sweet. Never, so far as we know, do they live in shallow water- 

 and as a rule they prefer a depth of about fifteen feet. So far as we know, only one species of the: 

 Order has ever inhabited a land of ice and snow. The divisions of the Order are as follows: 



THE ORDER OF SIRENIANS. 



FAMILIES. SPECIES. 



Manatees, ( Trichechus Latirostris Florida, Central America, Mexico, Cuba. 



Triche'chidae : ■) Trichechus Americanus . . South America to the Amazon. 



( Trichechus Senegalensis .... West Africa. 



ORDER / n7,nn-^Jfjnp ■ I ^"^""ff ^«f7°" Africa, Ceylon, India. 



SIRENIA: \ -""y"'*!/ *"«'^ • ^ Dugong Australis Australia. 



Rhytina, , 



Hy-dro-dam- ) Hydrodamalis (or 

 al'i-dae: ]^ Rhytina) Gigas Bering Island {now extinct) . 



The Manatee, or Sea-Cow.^ will not often be This creature, the only American representa- 



seen outside of museums, but it must be intro- tive of its Order except the extinct Steller's sea- 



duced here in order that the readers of this book cow, is a large and heavy water mammal from 



never need ask, as do thousands of other persons 9 to 13 feet in length, and in form very much hke 



—"What is a Manatee?" a seal. It has a blunt muzzle, small eyes, and" 



1 Tri-che'chus latri^os'tris. rather feeble, clumsy front flippers. Its tail is a 



153 



