20 
SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
have seen : * * vestiges of nails are discoverable on 
the edges of their fins, which they employ with tolerable 
dexterity in creeping and in carrying their young; hence the 
comparison of these organs with hands, and the name of 
Manatus applied to these animals.”—C. R. A. And here 
I do not hesitate to avow my belief that there are animals 
contained in this group of marine placentals which much 
more nearly approach the Primates than any of those 
contained in our museums or catalogues. The following 
description from Shaw’s Zoology is certainly that of an 
animal of which we have but little authentic knowledge :— 
“ This species (the sea-ape Manati) is only known from 
the description of Steller, who, near the coast of America, 
saw a singular animal which he chose to name a sea-ape. 
It was about five feet long, with a head like a dog’s ; the 
ears sharp and erect, and the eyes large ; on both lips it 
had a kind of beard ; the form of the body was thick and 
round, but tapering to the tail, which was bifurcated, with 
the upper lobe longest; the body was covered with thick 
hair, grey on the back and red on the belly. Steller could 
not discover any feet or paws. It was full of frolic, and 
sported in the manner of a monkey, swimming sometimes 
on one side of the ship and sometimes on the other, and 
looking at it with much seeming surprise. It would come 
so near the ship that it might be touched with a pole, but 
if any one stirred it would immediately retire. It often 
raised one-third of its body above water, and stood up¬ 
right for a considerable time; then suddenly darted under 
the ship, and appeared in the same attitude on the other 
side : this it would repeat for thirty times together. It 
would frequently bring up a sea plant not unlike a bottle- 
gourd, which it would toss about and catch again in its 
