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XXL Account of the Sea-Cow^, and the life made of it * 
By Molineux Shuldham, Efquire^ 
Ralde, Mar. 2, 
1775 - 
T H E fea-cow is a native of the Magda- 
len Iflands, St. John’s, and Anticnfti in 
the Gulph of St. Lawrence. They refort very early in 
the fpring to the former of thefe places, which feems to 
be by nature particularly adapted to the wants of thefe 
animals, abounding with clams of a very large lize, 
and the mod: convenient landing places, called Echou- 
ries. Here they crawl up in great numbers, and fome- 
times remain for fourteen days together without food, 
when the weather is fair ; but on the firft appearance of 
rain, they immediately retreat to the water with great 
precipitation. They are, when out of the water, very un- 
weildy, and move with great difficulty. They weigh 
from 1500 to 2000 pounds, producing, according to 
their ffze, from one to two barrels of oil, which is boiled 
out of a fat fubftance that lies between the fhin and the 
flelh. Immediately on their arrival they calf, and en- 
gender again about two months after ; fo that they carry 
their young about nine months. They never have more 
than two at a time, and feldom more than one. 
(a) A. fhcll-fifli refembling afcallop. 
M m 2 
The 
