Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs.
- John Timbs
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs. Source: Wellcome Collection.
364/404
![derive tlieir name from the hand-like form of their swimming- paws or fins. They live chiefly on the Avarmer shores of iSTorth and South America, and come on shore to feed, helping them- selves on to the beach by their paws. The Dugongs, so called from the Malayian name of one of the species, are foimd chiefly ill the Indian Archipelago and the Eed Sea. Tliey do not come on shore, but devour the seaweed which grows along the coast, and their teeth are peculiarly modified for this purpose. The scientific name of the Dugong, Halicore (sea-maiden or mermaid) points to the fact that these creatures, as AA^ell as the Manatees, have often figured in the wondrous narratives of which old books are full, of strange and unknown creatures rising from the deep.” In the Fenny Cydojicedia., voce MHiale, we read :—“ The mammae of the Manatees and Dugongs are pectoral; and this conformation, joined to the adroit use of their flippers (avIiosc five fingers can be easily distinguished through the investmg membranes, four of them being terminated by nails) in pro- gression, nursing their young, &c. liaA^e caused them, ivlien seen at a distance, ivitli the anterior part of their body out _pf Avater, to be taken for some creature approaching to human shape; so nearly (especially as their muzzle is thick set Avith hairs, giving somcAAdiat of the effect of human hah or beard) that there can be little doubt that not a feAv of the tales of j\rermen and INIermaids liaA^e had their origin AAuth these animals, as avcII as Avith Seals and ATalruses, Thus, the Portuguese and Spaniards give the Manatee a denomination Avhich signifies Woman-fish [the French call it Femme J/a- rmc] ; and the Dutch call the Dugong Baardmannetje, or Little-bearded i\Ian. A very little imagination, and a memory for only the marA^ellous portion of the a}ipearaiice sulhced.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28127420_0366.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
