512 



TAXONOMY 



A'. Y. Zuoiogical Society 



There are marked differences in size, shape, and habits of present day mammals. The 

 giant apteater, Myrmecophaga jubata, is a native of tropical America. Its coarse hair is almost 

 bristle-like in structure. The long narrow snout and a long tongue enable it to lick up in- 

 sects. * 



The basis of the classification of to-day. The scientist of to-day 

 knows manv more animals than Aristotle or Linnaeus knew. 

 There are probably more than a million different kinds of ani- 

 mals now known, and nearly as many plants. With the method of 

 identifying and classifying animals and plants in an orderly and 

 scientific manner there has grown a division of biology, taxonomy, 

 that is concerned with this classification. Taxonomy (from taxis 

 — arrangement ; nomos — law) is the division of biology that 

 has to do with the classification of animals and plants on the basis 

 of fundamental similarities. The modern method of classifica- 

 tion of plants and animals does more than catalog animals for 

 the convenience of the scientists. It expresses a kinship and rela- 

 tionship. The relationship of plants and animals has been de- 



