History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Manatus. MAMMALIA. HERBIYORA. i>9in a cave (Buckland, Rel. Dil. p. 18.), and in clay at Brentford, where,according to Mr Trimmer, six tusks were found in turning over anarea of 120 yards. (Phil. Trans. 1813, p. 135).APODA.JIN this greatdivision of truly aquatic animals, so little isknown of their history, and of the limits of their geographicaldistribution, that we are at a loss to determine what species shouldbe regarded as genuine natives,and what as merely occasionalvisitants of our shores. It isjudged expedientto enumerateall those which have been detected in our seas, even thoughthey may have been stragglers, for the purpose of increasingthe facilities of those who enjoy, occasionally,a favourable opportunityfor determining the species which are rare, and thecharacters of which are consequentlyobscure. It is particularlyrecommended to such naturalists to be minute in their observationsand descriptions,in order to advance our knowledge ofthe different kinds of British whales, the characters of many ofwhich are stillinvolved in much uncertainty and confusion.HERBIVORA.Gen. XXVIII. MANATUS. Lamantine.—Grinders eighton each side, with two transverse ridges.44. M. borealis. Sea-Cow.— When full grown, extending to28 feet in length.Manati, Bay, Quad. 193—Trichechus manatus, Lin. Syst. 1. 49Stewart, El. 1. 125.In this animal, the fore-swimmers (fins or paws) are furnished with the rudimentsof nails. In youth there are two small incisors in the upper jaw ;the gape is small, the lips double, and the mouth is beset with white tubularbristles. This species inhabits the western shores of America and Kamtschatka.In Greenland it is rare, as only one mutilated specimen occurred toFabricius— Fauna, Gr. p. 6.The only example of its occurrence in Britain is recorded by Mr Stewartin his work quoted above " : The carcase of one of these animals was, in 1 785,thrown ashore near Leith. It was much disfigured ;and the fishermen extractedits liver and other parts, from which a considerable quantity of oil wasobtained." I was subsequently informed by Mr Stewart, that it came ashoreat Newhaven in the harvest season ;itthough had been dead for some time,and was in a putrid state, he was able to satisfy himself with regard to thespecies.