WHALE-TAILED TRICHECHUS. 241 



above Mindanao*, but is certainly that which in- 

 habits near Rodiguez, vulgarly called Diego Reys, 

 an island to the east of Mauritius, or the isle of 

 France, near which it is likewise found. It is also 

 probable that it extends to New Holland. They 

 live perpetually in the water, and frequent the 

 edges of the shores ; ancl^ in calm weather, swim 

 in great droves near the mouths of rivers : in the 

 time of flood they come so near the land that a 

 person may stroke them with his hand : if hurt, 

 they swim out to the sea, but presently return 

 again. They live in families, Qne near another; each 

 consists of a male, a female, a half-grown young 

 one, and a very small one. The females oblige 

 the young to swim before them, while the other 

 old ones surround, and, as it were, guard them 

 on all sides. The affection between the male and 

 female is very great; for if she is attacked, he 

 will defend her to the utmost, and if she is killed; 

 will follow her corpse to the very shore, and swim 

 for some days near the place it has been landed 

 at. 



They are vastly voracious, and feed not only on 

 the fuci that grow in the sea, but such as are 

 flung on the edges of the shore. When they are 

 filled, they fall asleep on their backs. During 

 their meals they are so intent on their food, that 

 any one may go among them, and choose which 

 he likes best. Their back and sides are gene- 

 rally above water; and numbers of gulls, from. 



* Dampier, voy. 1. p. 321. 

 V. I. 16 



