THE MANATEES: HABITS. 121 



The buccaneer Exquemelin's account. — Only a few years later we find the buccaneers 

 making fair use of the Manatee in replenishing their oftentimes empty larders, and, in the interval 

 of slaughtering the defenseless Indians and colonists, one of these hardy pirates finds time to 

 record some observatiotis regarding the animal. After the destruction of Panama, in 1670, 

 Bxquemelin and his companions sail along the coast of Costa Eica, en route for Jamaica. He 

 alludes to the Sea-cow in the following language: 



"This Accident and Encounter retarded our Journey, in the space of two days, more than we 

 could regain in a whole Fortnight. This was the occasion that obliged us to return unto our 

 former Station, where wb remained for a fow days. From thence we directed our Course for a 

 Place, called Boca del Dragon, there to make Provisions of Flesh. Especially of a certain Animal 

 which the Spaniards call Manentines, and the Dutch, Sea Cows, because the Head, Nose, and 

 Teeth, of this Beast, are very like unto those of a Cow. They are found commonly in such 

 places, as under the depth of the Waters, are yery full of Grass, on whicb, it is thought, they 

 do pasture. . . . Their manner of engendering likewise, is the same with the usual manner 

 of the Land-Cow, the Male of this kind being in similitude, almost one and the same thing with 

 a Bull. Yet notwithstanding they conceive and breed but once. But the space of time that they 

 go with Calf, I could not as yet learn. These Fishes have the sense of Hearing extremely acute, 

 in so much as in taking them, the Fishermen ought not to n^ake the least noise, nor row, 

 unless it be very slightly." ' 



The buccaneer seems to have gathered correct information as to the mode of life of the 

 Manatee, but as to their breeding but once, although, as I believe, we have no facts to disprove 

 the statement, analogical considerations would lead us to reject it. 



Condamine's account. — Coudamine is, perhaps, the only other early writer to whom it will 

 be necessary to refer. He alludes to the South American Manatee among other fish, in which 

 group of animals all the early eiplorers insisted in placing it. " It is not amphibious, properly 

 speaking," he says, "because it never comes entirely out of the water, and cannot walk, not having 

 but the two fins near the head, in the form of wings 16 inches long, which serve in place of arms 

 and feet; it lifts only the head out of the water, and that to gather the plants along the shore." 



In regard to the habits of Manatees in confinement, I can only quote from the writings of the 

 American and English observers who have had the opportunity to study the specimens in the Phila- 

 delphia, New York,, and London zoological gardens. Of the Central Park specimen Mr. Conklin 

 states: "It manifests at times extreme playfulness, and will answer the call of the keeper by a 

 peculiar noise, somewhat resembling the squeak of a mouse. Some time ago the epidermis on the 

 back peeled off in small pieces, leaving a bright new skin similar to that of a snake just after shed- 

 ding. It was kept out in the open air until the thermometer fell to 53°, when it was removed to 

 a building. It appears to be very sensitive to cold, curling up its back if the water is in the least 

 chilly. It has been observed to remain under water five or six minutes at a time without coming 

 tq the surface to breathe."^ 



Miss Crane's observations. — Miss Agnes Crane, who attentively observed the South 

 American Manatees at the Brighton Aquarium in 1879, has given us some interesting facts 

 regarding the mode of respiration of the Sireuians and their attitudes when at rest. After stating 

 that the specimens were received from Triuidad, she says: 



"The young male, a fine animal in robust condition, measured, in November, 1879, four feet 

 ten inches from snout to tail, with a maximum girth of four feet. The female was four feet eight 



'Exquemelin: Buccaneers of America, English translation, 1684, pp. 82,83. 

 'Conklin, in Forest d,nd Stream, i, 1«73, p. 166. 



