266 XMiLOGY. 



Tin- heaver \\;is formerly indigenous to many European 

 countries, and even to Britain. 



419. The order of edentata seems to fill up the link 

 between the onguiculata and the ongulata, for the nails acquire 

 a great development, and cover a large portion of the cxtiv- 



Fig. 208. Head of the Armadillo. 



roity of the fingers and toes ; but that which characterizes 

 them is the absence of teeth in the front of the mouth 

 (Fig. 208). _ 



The dentition is composed of canine and molar teeth only, 

 and even these are also sometimes absent (Fig. 22); the 

 edentata live, in fact, on soft insects, or leaves easy to gather. 

 A- examples of this group, we cite the armadillos (Fig. 209), 

 the pangolins (Fig. 173), and the ant-eaters. 



420. The order of pachydermata belongs to the division 

 of mammals having hoofs, and is composed of all the on- 

 gulata in which the stomach is formed in the usual way, and 

 not intended for rumination. They are remarkable for the 

 thickness of their skins ; they are all more or less herbi- 

 vorous ; and their brains have convolutions, as in the carni- 



Fig. 209. The Armadillo Cabassou. 



vora. Some have the nose prolonged into a proboscis, and 

 are for this reason called proboscidians : the elephan; 

 have this feature. Others are recognised by the f. 

 minuting in a single toe, covered with a hoof; the hoi 

 and zebra, offer this character, and hence the name of solipeda. 



