M A N A T I. . 355 
will attempt to overturn the boat by getting under 
it*, others will prefs down the rope, in order to 
break it; and others will {trike at the harpoon with 
their tails, with a view of getting it out, which they 
often fucceed in. They have not any voice, but 
make a noife by hard breathing, like the fnorting 
of a horfe. 
They are of an enormous fize; fome are 28 feet Descr: 
long, and 8000 lb. * in weight. i"he head, in pro¬ 
portion to the bulk of the animal, is fmall, oblong, 
and aimoft fquare : the noitrils are filled with ihort 
briitles : the gape, or rifius, is fmall: the lips are 
double : near the junction of the two jaws the mouth 
is full of white tubular briitles, which ferve the 
fame ufe as the laminae in whales, to prevent the 
food running out with the water : the lips are alfo 
full of briitles, which ferve initead of teeth to cut 
the itrong roots of the fea plants, which floating 
afhore are a fign of the vicinity of thefe animals. 
In the mouth are no teeth, only two flat white bones, 
one in each jaw ; one above, another below, with 
undulated furfaces, which ferve initead of grinders. 
The eyes are extremely fmall, not larger than 
thofe of a fneep : the iris black : it is deftitute of 
ears, having only two orifices, fo fmall that a quill 
will fcarce enter them : the tongue is pointed, and 
but fmall: the neck is thick, and its junction with 
* Thofe of the TVeJ} Indies , and other hot climates, do not exceed 
1200lb. in weight, and few arrive at that fize. Probably they are 
not buffered to live their full time in thofe countries, beiilg perpe¬ 
tually perfecuted by the Mofquito and other Indians , who are very 
dexterous in ftriking them. Vide j Dumpier, I. 3$, 36. 
A a 2 the 
