Evening star., 1935-11-26
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field.
Laboratory and Study.
Laboratory and Stud!
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Glimpses of the family life of "mer-
maids" their Spouses and their babies
are reported to the American Society of
MammalogistS here by o. w. Barrett,
naturalist and explorer, of North Clar-
endon, VT.
The prototypes of the "mermaids" Of
legend, he reports, are among the least
known of all animals to naturalists be-
cause of the underwater habitat and
their secretive habits. They are the
manatees of the Caribbean region and
the dugongs of the Indian Ocean. They
constitute the only remaining species of
the serenia, or moon creatures, distant
relatives of the elephant. Both have a
somewhat human facial appearance.
They feed standing upright in the water,
their fiippers held out before them like
arms. Sometimes, it is said, the females
hold their calves in these f1ippers. Seen
from distance, they have curiously
human appearance, and this accounts
for the many reports of mermaids and
mermen.
This is especially true of the dugong-
a creature of the open sea, with a white,
almost hairless body, which is extremely
secretive and which has almost never
been captured alive. When one is
washed ashore or caught in a fishers
net it causes superstitious fear among
the natives. The manateeS are not so
human in appearance and are much bet
ter known.
The creatures seldom make their ap-
pearance above water in daylight. They
love to Craze in the moonlight, and this
had added to their humanlike appear
ance which has given rise to the mer-
maid legends. Mr.. Barrett studied the
animals in both America and Africa.
Concerning the manatee, Mr.. Barrett
records: ''The animal still is fairly COM
mon in most of the fresh-water bayous,
lagoons and rivers along the east coast
of Nicaragua. One of the best-known
herds on the Caribbean Coast inhabits
the Indio River, just north of Greytown.
Nicaragua. Estimates of its number vary
from a few score to several hundred.
The herd apparently is stationary there
and does not increase or decrease TO
any notable degree from year to year,
although the natives take heavy toll.
Hunting is usually done on moon
light nights. Two men, in the smallest
possible dugout canoe, go to the likeliest
grazing ground and conceal themselves
near the river bank. Soon after tWl-
light the herd arrives from its daytime
place of concealment. The animal, 1t IS
said, never willfully attacks the canoe
or it's occupants, or in any way tries TO
defend itself when attacked. Attempts
to escape by rapid swimming, diving ana
quick turning are its only tactics.
"a manatee can remain under water
from 20 to 30 minutes when frightened.
During the daytime the slightest un-
usual noise, like rain falling on tin
pail or the splitting of the hunter, Is
sufficient to keep the whole herd SUD-
merged for hours, yet while they are
grazing the hunter may go up and slap
them on the back unnoticed.
THE Central American animal feeds
entirely, according to the writer's OBJ
Servation, on para grass, one of the sew
eral grasses that grow on the banks OF
the freSh-water lagoons and rivers, the
roots always remaining in the soil above
the mean level of the water and the
stems floating out some or 10 feet from
the bank. Only the tender, vertical tips
of the stems are eaten, the portions re-
naming in the water or forming mat
just above 1t being never touched.
families consisting Of bull, coH