CHARACTERISTICS OF MAMMALS 



9 



Some families contain only one living genus, the next lower 

 step in classification. Man belongs to the Genus Homo. With 

 the exception of the larger and more striking mammals, treat- 

 ments in this book are confined to the genus. Most genera are 

 easily recognizable. Many species, on the contrary, can be dis- 



Porcupines 



Rats 



Squirrels 



Monkeys 

 (Primates) 



Flying Lemur 



Insect Eaters 

 (Insectivores) 



Hoofed Mammals 



Elephant 

 Pouched Mammals 

 (Marsupials) 



Rabbits 



Scaly Anteater 



Flesheaters 

 (Carnivores) 



Seals 



Whales and 

 Porpoises 



Egg-laying 

 Mammals 



Primitive Extinct Mammals 

 Fig. 3 — Generalized diagram of the mammalian ''Family tree^* 



tinguished only with difficulty. This handbook would be un- 

 wieldy were it to attempt to give descriptions of every species 

 in each genus. The species to which man belongs is Homo 

 sapiens. Homo, the generic name, in Latin means "man"; 

 sapiens, the specific name, means "wise." Linnaeus, the founder 



