MAMMALS. 99 



Zend'aves'ta. — A sacred book of the Guebers or Parsces, as- 

 cribed to Zoroaster, and reverenced as a sole rule of faith 

 and practice. 



MAMMALS. 



Mammal'ogy (Lat. mamma, the breast). — The science or 

 doctrine of mannuiferous animals, or mammalia. Those 

 having hoofs are iaxmcA. nngul a te ; the others unguiculate. 

 The mammalia have been divided into two classes, the 

 Plncentalia and the Implacentalia. 



Class 1. The PlacentaUa, or those having a placenta or a 

 vascular chorion, by which the foetus is attached to the 

 uterus, are divided into 



1. Bima'na. — Two-handed, whose posterior extremities arc 

 used only to keep them in an erect position, and for the 

 purpose of locomotion. They comprehend the varieties 

 of man. 



2. ftuadru'mana. — Those having four hands, whose hinder 

 extremities, in some instances, resemble hands more than 

 the anterior, the thumb being sometimes wanting or in- 

 capable of being opposed to the other digits. They com- 

 prehend the ape, monkey, etc. 



3. Cheirop'tera. — Those having the exterior extremities so 

 modified as to serve for wings, the fingers being lengthened, 

 and connected together by a thin membrane. They com- 

 prehend the different kinds of bats. 



4. Insectiv'ora. — Insect-eaters. They comprehend the 

 shrew, mole, hedge-hog, etc. 



5. Carniv'ora. — The flesh-eaters. They comprehend the 

 dog, cat, bear, seal, etc. 



G. Ceta'cea. — The whale tribe. They live in the sea or 

 in large rivers. The caudal fin is horizontal, not vertical, 

 as in the true fishes. They comprehend the whale, por- 

 poise, etc. 



7. Pachyder'mata. — The thick-skinned. They are dis- 

 tinguished by the thickness of their skins, and comprehend 

 the hippopotamus, elephant, horse, hog, etc. 



8. Ruminan'tia. — Those that chew the cud. They have 

 cloven feet, want incisors, and have a stomach with four 

 cavities. 



9. Edenta'ta. — Those having imperfect dental apparatus. 

 Their digits are generally sunk in large and crooked claws. 



