The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-07
Mnnatus Amoricanus, or Sea Cow.

THERE'S exhibition in this city very curious and rarely
seen ANIMAL known by the common name oft Sea Cow
This name, however, gives idea ofthe II the
-baRatus .4mericGRns of Dtsormcs.
1t lis maine mamfer, resembling, in degree the
whale but being the shape md heplc of its class
II has the general fish or boatk foim its tel spreading
into horizontal paddle. thick and clumsy. 1t quite
without fins. excepting the two ppes, pae in the position
Of the fins at end below the gs in the fish ibe. This the
female eleven eld half feet lOrs and about forty inches
In thickne1s, behind the ppe has DE- * thick skin with
few stray hars Of gray color, scattered at intervals
oyerit.
The hppers shapeless sumps of fl inches long and
five IN diameter. terminating in the rudimens Of nails ON
which TACT, believe, it ives ca'ed haRdtHS.
The mouth and the only portions which sem ca
Fable OF deserving ola description and yet without draw
ing is very difficult to give competent idea of their form,
Ihs upper lip hes kind of urike that of hog
being very flexible, with nostrs of hf inch diane
ter The upper lip abruptly archcd over the projecting
rounded end OF the superior maxa and in this respect may
De hkensd to the COW when The lip is thrown up On either
tde the lip Widens and tbckens dropping quite below the
line Of the lower lip in the The hiCkened dC are
armed with Short blunt spnc1 from The size of hair to ths
1e oil aqui oneOuTth inch in length, Thes,
10 gather its food OF the grasses Seeds end things on which
hsnbssts aong the banks Of strc1ms within de-wateT.
The Jaws formed somewhat like those of the cow with
moar teeth OF the same number and form. it is said. But
these Sie not visible in hi dried specimen, The bones have
Deen taken out ceansed end repa support the
They should be replaced by wooden uppols and he entire
his exhibition
Ae uotsa VeiteDTa are n number, and lpOnd
many fold a vely heavy r.bs each side Th rbs
appear to be ld ivory unlike those of any land manner
nave not been able to discover the skin any peroraon
corresponding to an although Desc mes describes the
ears 10 De but holes, the size of pin This not consistent
WIN the keenness of their her lg, which is spd by those
VINO caught alter long watching be extremely Quick
anu acute II much more likely that the duTa aperture
the same a. The nFsel
he ausa are plac farther forw ID than in guy known
animal, lying beneath he under Jaw and e.tsndne hal
aide. 800 ' 'i oh 'Aeh
There ara two species OF the Manatus one i7habipR the
East Indian shores, rid the Amerc41 which il hs.,
Alown' m the MOUTH the South Anne. .cP1 rive
The one on exhibition ne the femt OF NJ that ware
captured IN the Lucy River Floda in August last The
mae smaller md YVES eaptu. d II net aud r,cured bu
win az caa could not be kept long give The femple a
caught n the net. but could not be scurcd alive Vyh
tot IN the head with rifle ball. she threw half the b, dy
So'a water aud beloved Ike dying There wen
Two Young ones which escaped though the meshes of I'M
net. - "'
Lovers OF the curious in nature would do well to call auc
See this so cad STeh' g Mermaid Sc, Cow - ~
whatever is its most appropriate name