Order EDENTATA. 



The kst order of placental mammals, containing the Sloths, 

 Anteaters, Armadillos, Cape Anteaters, and Pangolins or Scaly 

 Anteaters, is quite as distinct from all other mammalian orders as 

 the Cetacea and Sirenia are ; but it is far less homogeneous than 

 either, there being very few structural characters common to all 

 the different suborders included in it, except the absence of teeth 

 in the front of the jaw. In some of the Edentates, as in the only 

 Indian genus belonging to the order, teeth are entirely wanting ; 

 when teeth are present they are rootless, destitute of enamel, and 

 similar to each other in shape, and, with a single exception (the 

 genus Tatusia, an armadillo), there are no milk-teeth. All known 

 species of Edentates are terrestrial or arboreal and resemble ordi- 

 nary mammals in external form. 



As only one genus is found in India it is unnecessary to describe 

 here the very great structural differences of the various suborders 

 and families. These are, according to Flower's latest classifica- 

 tion (P. Z. S. 1882, p. 358) : I. Suborder Pilosa, containing the 

 families (1) Bradypodidce and (2) Myrmecopliagidce, both South- 

 American ; II. Loricata, with the family (3) Dasypodidce, also 

 South -American ; III. Squamata, consisting of the (4) Manidce, 

 Asiatic and African; and IV. Tubulidentata, containing the (5) 

 Orycteropodidw, confined to Africa. 



Suborder SQUAMATA. 



No teeth. The whole upper surface and the sides of the body 

 and tail covered with large imbricate horny scales. Limbs short, 

 5 toes on each foot. Tongue long, vermiform, capable of great 

 protrusion. Uterus bicornuate. Placenta diffused and non-deci- 

 duate. No caecum. 



A single family with only one living genus. 



Family MANID^E. 



Genus MANIS, Linn. (1766). 



Head small, long and pointed in front ; mouth very small. Eyes 

 small. Ear-conch small or rudimentary. The upper part of the 

 head, the back and sides of the body, the whole tail, and the outside 



