672 



PLACENTAL MAMMALS. 



CHAPTER LXX. 

 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. Ftirther, 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 (Manis). 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 placentation of the Edentates varies, the placenta being 

 discoidal and deciduate in the Sloths (e.g., Cholctpus Hojfmanni), 

 but diffuse and non-deciduate in Manis (Turner) a fact which 

 throws some doubt on the propriety of using the placental char- 

 acters in classification. 



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 (Bradypodidcz). 

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

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

 Owen's group of the Edentuld}. 



The order Edentata is but sparingly represented in modern 

 times, and its geographical distribution is peculiar. The true 



