KOUNX^T AILED MANATI, 179 
the shoulders,, and taper gradually to the tail, 
which is broad and round. The feet are placed 
at the shoulders ; and near the base of each foot, 
in the female, there is a small teat. The skin 
is thick and hard, and has a few hairs scattered 
over it. 
They are found in the African rivers, from Sene- 
gal to the Cape ; and in abundance on some of 
the eastern coasts of South America. In the river 
of Amazons, they are often seen nearly a thou- 
sand leagues from its mouth. They seem much 
more partial to fresh, or only brackish water, than 
to the sea. 
At times they are observed, in their frolicsome 
moods, to leap to great heights above the surface ; 
and they delight in shallow water near low land, 
and in places secure from surges, where the tides 
run gently. Marine plants seem to constitute 
their principal food. They are taken by harpoons. 
The Indians go out in small canoes, with the utmost 
silence, (for the animal is very quick of hearing), 
carrying a harpoon, fastened to a strong cord of 
several fathoms in length. When struck, the 
manati swims off with the instrument of death in his 
body ; and, when spent with pain and fatigue, again 
rises to the surface, and is taken^ The affection of 
the parent for her young is as conspicuous in this 
as in the last species. If a young one is with its mo- 
ther when she is struck by a fisherman, careless of 
her own sufferings, she affectionately takes it, if not 
too large, under her fins or feet, to protect it from 
her own fate. But how cruellv do mankind re- 
%/ 
ward them for these tender offices ! The young, 
which will never forsake its dam, even in the 
greatest distress, is looked upon in no other light 
than as certain prey. 
We are told that this species of manati is often 
tamed by the native inhabitants of America, and 
