THE DUGONGS 363 



these are mere rudiments, and are concealed beneath the horny plates 

 which cover the front part of the mouth and even the tongue, which 

 is small and not movable. Manatees live in pairs, and the male is 

 said to exhibit much affection for the female, so that if his mate is 

 harpooned there is considerable chance of securing him also. 



There is considerable inducement for hunting these creatures, the 

 flesh being very good eating, while the abundant fat supplies an oil 

 of excellent quality ; and the animal is all the more valuable as the 

 forest region of South America, so prolific in vegetation and in small 

 forms of animal life, is singularly deficient in large beasts, especially 

 those of edible kinds. Thus the Manatees, under the names of 

 "Peixe-boi" (Ox-fish) and "Vacca Marina" (Sea-Cow), are important 

 animals to the water-side population of their native haunts. 



The Manatee is not a difficult animal to keep in captivity in its 

 own country, and several specimens have been exhibited elsewhere — for 

 instance, in Philadelphia, at the Brighton Aquarium, and in our own 

 Zoological Gardens. 



THE DUGONGS 



The Dugongs (Halicore) are so like the Manatees in general appear- 

 ance that any one would at once see that they are near relatives of those 

 animals, which they resemble in size and in general form. They can, 

 however, be immediately distinguished by the tail, which in the Dugongs 

 is forked like that of a Porpoise. 



There are also some noteworthy differences in the teeth, the male 

 Dugong having two large incisor tusks, which grow continuously, 

 though only the tips show outside the mouth ; while in the female 

 they never project beyond the gum, remaining undeveloped in their 

 sockets. 



The young animal has several more small front teeth, which are 

 never seen, being hidden under the horny gums. Moreover, the 

 grinders differ somewhat 'in structure from those of the Manatees, and 



