The Mammals and Man 



commonV ancestor, among modern mammals, is probably to be 

 found in the Insectivora (Figs. 119 and 120). Differing sharply 

 from the Insectivora in their possession of wings, but other- 

 wise closely similar, are the bats (Fig. 121). From this same 

 insectivor-like type have probably evolved the whales (Fig. 122), 



FIG. 119. Centetcs ecaudatus, a primitive insectivor. 



the seals, etc. (Fig. 123), the carnivora (Fig. 124), and finally 

 the primates, leading up through the lemurs to the monkeys 

 and man. Thus merely indicating the many and devious roads 



FIG. 120. Hedgehog. 



Photo: Berridge. 



of mammalian Evolution, we turn again to the one particular 

 line that we set out to follow. 



The Insectivora are by many of their features recognisable 

 as low types of placental mammals. They have a primitive 

 type of skull, and frequently show a rather marked similarity 

 between the several classes of teeth. The brain is relatively 

 ill-developed, reminding one rather strongly of the Marsupials, 



137 



