diff --git a/cython/core/manifold.pyx b/cython/core/manifold.pyx
index ff1ebc755..1a5e0ca6e 100644
--- a/cython/core/manifold.pyx
+++ b/cython/core/manifold.pyx
@@ -1790,31 +1790,7 @@ cdef class Manifold(Triangulation):
         free_normal_surfaces(surfaces)
         return ans
 
-    def identify(self, extends_to_link=False):
-        """
-        Looks for the manifold in all of the SnapPy databases.
-        For hyperbolic manifolds this is done by searching for isometries:
-
-        >>> M = Manifold('m125')
-        >>> M.identify()
-        [m125(0,0)(0,0), L13n5885(0,0)(0,0), ooct01_00000(0,0)(0,0)]
-
-        By default, there is no restriction on the isometries. One can
-        require that the isometry take meridians to meridians. This
-        might return fewer results:
-
-        >>> M.identify(extends_to_link=True)
-        [m125(0,0)(0,0), ooct01_00000(0,0)(0,0)]
-
-        For closed manifolds, extends_to_link doesn't make sense
-        because of how the kernel code works:
-
-        >>> C = Manifold("m015(1,2)")
-        >>> C.identify()
-        [m006(-5,2)]
-        >>> C.identify(True)
-        []
-        """
+    def _identify(self, extends_to_link=False):
         ans = []
         for table in database.__all_tables__.values():
             match = table.identify(self, extends_to_link)
diff --git a/python/__init__.py b/python/__init__.py
index 39886a3b8..42c4f4555 100644
--- a/python/__init__.py
+++ b/python/__init__.py
@@ -35,6 +35,33 @@ class TriangulationHP(_TriangulationHP):
 class Manifold(_ManifoldLP):
     __doc__ = _ManifoldLP.__doc__
 
+    def identify(self, extends_to_link=False):
+        """
+        Looks for the manifold in all of the SnapPy databases.
+        For hyperbolic manifolds this is done by searching for isometries:
+
+        >>> M = Manifold('m125')
+        >>> M.identify()
+        [m125(0,0)(0,0), L13n5885(0,0)(0,0), ooct01_00000(0,0)(0,0)]
+
+        By default, there is no restriction on the isometries. One can
+        require that the isometry take meridians to meridians. This
+        might return fewer results:
+
+        >>> M.identify(extends_to_link=True)
+        [m125(0,0)(0,0), ooct01_00000(0,0)(0,0)]
+
+        For closed manifolds, extends_to_link doesn't make sense
+        because of how the kernel code works:
+
+        >>> C = Manifold("m015(1,2)")
+        >>> C.identify()
+        [m006(-5,2)]
+        >>> C.identify(True)
+        []
+        """
+        return self._identify(extends_to_link)
+
     def high_precision(self):
         """
         Return a high precision version of this manifold.
@@ -128,7 +155,7 @@ def identify(self, extends_to_link=False):
         []
 
         """
-        return self.low_precision().identify(extends_to_link)
+        return self.low_precision()._identify(extends_to_link)
 
 
 SnapPy._manifold_class = Manifold