THE MANATEE, OR COW-FISH. 5P3 



which she holds in her paddles while giving suck. From 

 twenty to twenty -five gallons of oil are obtained from each 

 sea-cow. The poor manatee, little able to defend itself, has 

 other enemies besides man. The jaguar lies in wait for it on 

 the trunk of a tree overhanging the placid pool, and seizing 

 it with his powerful claws as it swims by, holds it in a vice- 

 like grasp, from which in spite of its strength it in vain 

 endeavours to escape. 



Those who have voyaged on the ocean, know the solemn 

 feeling and the idea of vastness which is conveyed during a 

 calm at night, when monsters of the deep are heard far and 

 near as they come to the surface to inhale the air, or "blow," 

 as it is called. The same feeling is experienced by the 

 traveller up the Amazon when on board his montaria at 

 anchor, when he hears the splashing and snorting sounds of 

 its numerous inhabitants, as they rise through the mirror-like 

 plain, in which countless thousands of bright stars are re- 

 flected. Here fresh-water dolphins roam in great numbers. 

 In the Lower Amazon are two species ; one of which, — 

 the tucuxi, — when it comes to the surface to breathe, rises 

 horizontally, showing first the back of its fin, and then, draw- 

 ing an inspiration, generally diving down head-foremost ; and 

 another, called the bonto by the natives. When it rises, 

 it first shows the top of the head, and then floating on- 

 wards, immediately afterwards dips its head downwards, its 

 back curving over — exposing successively the whole dorsal 

 ridge without showing the tail-fin ; the well-known mode 

 in which the sea- porpoise swims, which makes it appear 

 to pitch head over heels. The natives regard the bonto or 

 largest species with especial awe, and will never kill one 

 voluntarily. Though their fat yields an excellent oil for 

 £79) 38 



