OF THE UNITED STATES 397 



years, bore any resemblance to the beauty that sits up on the tip 

 of her tail in the group herewith presented, I beg to be excused 

 an introduction. Certain it is, however, that these animals can 

 make considerable use of these paddles of theirs, for with them 

 they assist in tucking their food into their mouths, and in moving 

 about on the bottom of the river or lagoon where they may be 

 feeding, they use them in conjunction with the tail, in assisting 

 their locomotory acts. 



Manatees avoid getting into the open sea, but habitually re- 

 sort to the shallower waters of rivers, bays, and lagoons, where 

 they move sluggishly about on the bottom, browsing much in the 

 same way that the terrestrial herbivora do upon land, their food 

 consisting exclusively of the aquatic plants which so abundantly 

 grow in such situations. In quiet weather, they sometimes seem 

 to enjoy getting into deep water, where by the assistance of 

 their lungs, they are permitted to float at the surface, which they 

 do arching their body in a peculiar manner. Indeed, their lungs 

 seem to act very much in the same manner as the swim-bladder 

 of fishes is known to operate, and while Manatees are feeding 

 they may be seen to rise every few minutes to the surface to 

 breathe, but instances of their getting completely out on the land 

 remain yet to be proved, and when placed there, their acts are in 

 the extreme most awkward. So far as their senses are concerned 

 these creatures have fair eyesight, acute powers of hearing, and 

 the other powers probably well developed. They are not known 

 to be possessed of the ability of emitting any voice-sound. They 

 seem to bear captivity well, and living specimens have been stud- 

 ied with great interest and advantage at the Zoological Gardens 

 of London, where they have been successfully kept. In behavior, 

 they always seem to be gentle and inoffensive, exhibiting on all 

 occasions great concern and affection for their young. Indeed, 

 man has proved to be their greatest enemy, and they are forever 

 pursued and captured for their flesh and skin and the oil which 

 they yield. Thus it is that Manatees are on the road to extinc- 

 tion, which, everything considered, in time is sure to come about. 

 The methods of capturing the Manatee are many: (1) they may be 

 shot as they rise to the surface to breathe, an operation that re- 

 quires great skill and quickness; (2) they are taken in some lo- 

 calities by means of an ingenious kind of net; (3) finally, they are 

 captured by the various modes of spearing and the use of the har- 

 poon. 



