240 
WHALE-TAILED TRICHECHUS. 
Trichechus Borealis. T. nudus, cauda horizontali loco pedum poste- 
riorum. 
Hairless Trichechus, with a horizontal tail in place of hind feet, 
Trichechus borealis. Far, B, T. Manati. Lin, Sysf. Nat. Gmel. 
p. 6i. 
Whale-tailed Manati. Pennant ^adr. 2. 292. 
This animal seems to approach so nearly to 
the cetaceous or whale tribe, as scarce to deserve^ 
according to Mr. Pennant, the name even of a 
biped ; what are called the feet being little more 
than pectoral fins; which serve only for swim- 
mings and are never used to assist the animal ei- 
ther in walking or landing; for it never goes 
ashore, nor ever attempts to climb the rocks like 
the Walrus and the Seal. It brings forth in the 
water, and, like the Whale, suckles its young in 
that element. Like the Whale it is also destitute 
of voice, and has also a horizontal tail, which is 
broad, and of the form of a crescent, without even 
the rudiments of hind feet. 
So complete is the account given by Mr. Pen- 
nant of this animal, that we shall here deliver the 
most material parts of that author's description, 
rather than attempt a new one. 
It inhabits the seas about Berings and the 
other Akutimi islands, which intervene between 
Kamtschatka and America, but never appears off 
Kamtschatka, unless blown ashore by a tempest. 
It is probably the same species which is found 
