MAMMALS. 115 



skin is almost entirely naked, hairs being scarce, and on the 

 tail taking the shape of long wiry bristles. 



To-day two species of elephants exist, one having its 

 home in India, the other in Africa. In the later geological 

 ages there were several others, one having lived in America 

 and others in Europe. Towards the end of the last century 

 remains of hairy elephants even the flesh being preserved 

 were found imbedded in the ice in northern Siberia 

 Allied to the elephants were the somewhat larger mas- 

 todons, in which the molar teeth bore conical cusps, while 

 the tusks were frequently enormous. Some mastodons had 

 incisors in the lower jaw as well. 



ORDER VIII. HYRACOIDEA (Coneys). 



This order contains but two or three species, distributed 

 from Syria south into Africa. In having long curved 

 incisors and absence of canines they recall the rodents, in 

 other points their structure is like that of the rhinoceros, 

 while the foot-pads on their feet recall those of the cat or 

 dog. The hyrax of Syria is probably the coney of the 

 Old Testament. 



ORDER IX. UNGULATA (Hoofed Animals). 



To this order belong the great majority of important 

 mammals. They are herbivorous, usually of large size, 

 and lack collar-bones. The feet are used solely in walking, 

 and not in prehension, each toe having its tip enclosed in 

 a horny hoof, and in living forms there are never more than 

 four toes developed on a foot. The living ungulates are 

 arranged in two series, according to the number even or 

 odd of toes upon their hind feet. The odd- toed forms are 

 called PERISSODACTYLA, the even-toed are ARTIODACTYLA. 



