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; and^ 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, one 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 sv/im 
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. i. p. 331, 
V. I. 16 
