INTRODUCTION. /5 



Order VII. Here are placed the Pachydermata, 

 or thick-skinned mammals, containing among 

 them the largest terrestrial animals, several of 

 which, by their habits, are almost amphibious. 

 Hippopotamus, tapir ; one of the proboscidean 

 family, or the elephants, might form an order 

 by itself, as well as the solipeda or horses; 

 they are, however, normally multungular, and 

 seem to be the chief residue of a former zoology. 



Order VIII. Already, in the last order, the animals 

 had their digits much cramped by being sunk 

 into deep hoofs ; in the present, or Ruminantia, 

 there is, moreover, a complicated stomach, a 

 want of upper incisor teeth, in most even of 

 laniaries, and their feet are bifid. Camels, 

 deer, sheep, and oxen. 



Order IX. In the Edentata, we have the digits no 

 less sunk into horny claws than in the pre- 

 ceding ; they are altogether destitute of incisor 

 teeth, and more or less deficient in laniaries 

 and molars. They are divided into two tribes, 

 tardigrada, comprehending the sloths; and 

 Edentata proper ; the anteaters and armadillos. 



Order X. The Rodentia have again digits little 

 different from the carnivora, but they want 

 laniary teeth, and have the incisors of a form 

 and disposition peculiar to themselves, being 

 fitted for gnawing. Hares, squirrels, rats, &c. 

 Though they are of higher organisation than the 

 last mentioned, and of social habits, they seem 

 to approximate most to the 



