THE SEA-COW.
This is a queer name for a fish. But then you must admit, after a glance at its portrait, that it is a very queer fish. It is not shaped much like a cow, but it gives milk; and it gets the name of cow from that circumstance.
It not only gives milk to its young, but it is warm-blooded, while fishes are, you know, cold-blooded. It also breathes through lungs instead of gills like fish. In all these things it resembles the whale. The fact is that neither whales or sea-cows are really fishes, though they are generally considered as such, as they live in the water and swim about like fishes.
Sometimes a sea-cow is found that measures fifteen feet, but, usually, they are much smaller. Perhaps you may have heard of this creature by the name of manatee.
Its body is oblong; it has a flat tail, which is quite broad; its fins are something like arms, and its head is small, with the most comical face you ever saw. I am afraid you would be so impolite as to laugh in its face if ever you saw one.
It has rather a stupid expression, in which respect it differs from its cousins of the seal family. But it has ideas of its own, and very good ones; and it is very playful when in its native element.
It is easy to capture these poor beasts, for they always swim in crowds; and, if one is hurt with the harpoon, the others, instead of taking themselves out of danger, stay by their wounded comrade, and do everything in their power to assist him. They will try to pull out the weapon, or bite at the rope attached to it, and in this way hunters can often secure a whole troupe of manatees.
CAPTURE OF SEA COWS.
CAPTURE OF SEA COWS.
CAPTURE OF SEA COWS.
The sea-cow has a thick skin, and a layer of fat under it to keep it warm. The arm-like fins are terminated by curious appendageslike fingers, except they are united by a sort of membrane, or skin. At the ends of these are nails, similar to finger nails. The resemblance of these fins to hands must be strongly marked, for it is from these it gets its name of manatee, from the Latinmanus, a hand.
It is said by some that the female manatee carries her young in these arm-like fins, but this is not at all probable.
The sea-cow feeds upon plants, and is, therefore, generally found near the shores of rivers and lakes. It prefers a warm climate.
It is hunted for its oil, of which it yields a good supply of very excellent quality; and for its flesh, which is juicy and tender eating.
The female manatees are affectionate mothers. They take great care of their children, and keep them by them a long time, to train them in the way in which they should go.