86 THE .MAMMALIA. 



goal towards which Cuvier and Lamarck paved the 

 way with their grand beginnings, although starting 

 from such different points of view. Meanwhile 

 we must content ourselves with following the old 



tracks. 



1. THE MONOTREMA, CLOACAL OR FORKED ANIMALS. 



An example as to how the animal form should 

 not be conceived is given by Giebel, a man of vast 

 knowledge but yet opposed to the theory of descent. 

 He says of the two well-known species of this group, 

 the Ant-eaters (Echidna), and the Duck-moles (Orni- 

 thorhyncha) : ' If there is anything marvellous about 

 any series of animal forms, the Cloacal animals ap- 

 pear the strangest of all ; for the irregularities and 

 wondrous shapes in the variously formed organisa- 

 tions of the Edentata are far surpassed by those 

 met with in the Cloacal animals.' Brehm also 

 does not carry us much farther ; he says : ' The 

 Ant-eater and the Duck-mole are still classed 

 sometimes with the Marsupials and sometimes 

 with the Edentata. And, in fact, they combine 

 not only the peculiarities of the one and of the 

 other class, but also the most varied and opposite 

 characteristics of the whole first-named class (the 

 Mammals) ; indeed, they seem, to a certain extent, 



