INTRODUCTION. 



Sonic few Maimnalia are covered with a curious armour of bony plates, 

 which are either arranged in regular bands, as in the Armadillo, or overlaj) 

 each other like the tiles of a house, as in the Manis. Yet even these 

 strangely clad creatures are also supplied with liair, which appears between the 

 spines and plates, and upon the lower surface of the body. 



Members of this great class are to be found in all parts of the world, 

 and are so formed as to be enabled to inhabit a singular variety of localities 

 Tiie generality of the Mammalia live upon the gromid, but there are very 

 many species which are seldom seen upon the surface of the earth. Some, 

 as for example, the whole Monkey tril)C, arc, as a rule, inhabitants of trees; 

 and the Bats ;irc denizens of air, together with the birds. The ^Vhalcs arc 

 only to be found in the sea; and there are many creatures, among whom 

 tlic Common Mole is the most prominent, which pass the greater part of 

 their existence below the surface of the ground. 



