. Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammals; Animal behavior. 556 THE SEA COWS. the existence of some intellect. The sexes exhibit great affection for each other and endeavor to pro- tect one another; the mothers tend their children lovingly and are even said to carry them, when they are suckling, as Women carry their babes, using one of their fins as an arm to press the little ones to the breast. The vocal expression of the Manatees con- sists of a weak, dull moan. In breathing, they make a noise much resembling a lou
. Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammals; Animal behavior. 556 THE SEA COWS. the existence of some intellect. The sexes exhibit great affection for each other and endeavor to pro- tect one another; the mothers tend their children lovingly and are even said to carry them, when they are suckling, as Women carry their babes, using one of their fins as an arm to press the little ones to the breast. The vocal expression of the Manatees con- sists of a weak, dull moan. In breathing, they make a noise much resembling a loud snore. It is worthv of notice that these clumsy creatures not only endure confinement, but may be tamed to a high degree of docility. Their flesh, fat, hide and teeth are used; but, so far as known, no other portions of their carcass are put to account in any way. THE MANATEES PROPER. In the Manatees (Manatus) the tail-fin is rounded; the somewhat shapeless, fish-like body is very and a weight of six hundred or, according to Rap- pier, sometimes of eight hundred pounds. Ameri- cans assert, however, that they have seen much largel individuals, measuring seventeen or even twenty feet in length. The skin is nearly destitute of covering, having only short bristles, which stand about four- fifths of an inch apart. The coloring is a rather monotonous bluish gray, darker on the back and sides than on the under surface. The bristles have a yellowish tint. We owe the first exact account of the animal to A. von Humboldt. In dissecting a Lamantin, which was ten feet long, in Carrichana, on the lower Ori- noco, he found the following: The upper lip, which is clothed with a very tender skin and serves as an antenna, or feeler, when coming in contact with ob- jects, protrudes greatly, and the cavity of the mouth, which has an abnormally warm temperature in a freshly killed animal, shows a very curious organiza-. LAMANTIN OR AMERICAN MANATEE creeks, lagoons and the estuaries of rivers, and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1895
