299 



CHAPTER XL. 



ORDEES OF MAMMALIA (Continued). 



Edentata. 



Okdee III. Edentata or Bkuta. — The lowest order of the 

 placental or monodelphous Mammals is that of the Edentata, 

 often known by the name of Bruta. The name Edentata is 

 certainly not an altogether appropriate one, since it is only 

 in two genera in the order that there are absolutely no teeth. 

 The remaining members of the order have teeth, but these 

 are always destitute of true enamel, are never displaced hy a 

 second set, and have no complete roots. Further, in none of the 

 Edentata are there any median incisors, and in only one species 

 {one of the Armadillos) are there any incisor teeth at all. Canine 

 teeth, too, are almost invariably loanting. Clavicles are usually 

 present, hut are absent in the Scaly Ant-eater (Manis). All the 

 toes are furnished luith long and powerfid claws. The skin is 

 often covered with bony plcdes or horny scales. 



The order Edentata is conveniently divided into two great 

 sections, in accordance with the nature of the food, the one 

 section being phytophagous, the other insectivorous. In the 

 former section is the single living group of the Sloths {Brady- 

 podidce). In the latter are the two groups of the Armadillos 

 {Dasypodid^m), and the various species of Ant-eaters (the latter 

 constituting Owen's group of the Edcntida). 



The Edentates, like the Marsupials, are singularly circum- 

 scribed at the present day. No member of the order is 

 at the present time indigenous in Europe. Tropical Asia 



