565 



PLACENTAL MAMMALS. 



CHAPTER LXXV. 

 EDENTATA. 



ORDER III. EDENTATA or BRUTA. 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 by 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 wanting. Clavicles 

 are usually present, but are absent in the Scaly Ant-eater 

 (Mams). All the toes are furnished with long and powerful 

 claws. The mammary glands are usually pectoral, but are . 

 sometimes abdominal in position. The testes are abdominal 

 in position. The skin is often covered with bony plates 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 group of the Sloths (Bradypodidce). 

 In the latter are the two groups of the Armadillos (Dasypodidcz), 

 and the various species of Ant-eaters (the latter constituting 

 Owen's group of the Edentula}. 



The order Edentata is but sparingly represented in modern 

 times, and its geographical distribution is peculiar. The true 

 Ant-eaters, the Armadillos and the Sloths, are entirely confined 

 to South America, in which country a group of gigantic extinct 

 Edentates existed in Post-tertiary times. The Scaly Ant-eater 

 or Manis is common to Asia and Africa, and the genus Oryc- 

 teropus is peculiar to South Africa. 



The family Bradypodida comprises some exceedingly curious 



