Prof. Owen on the Class Mammalia. 197 
The order Monotremata is not the less ordinarily distinct from 
the Marsupialia, because it consists of but two genera, than is 
¢ order Bimana from that of Quadrumana, because it includes 
only a single genus. So likewise the anatomical peculiarities of 
the Proboscidia, Strenia, and Toxodontia call, at least, for those 
general terms, to admit of the convenient expression of general 
Propositions respecting them; and some of these general propo- 
sitions are of a value as great as the organic characters of more 
sg, wang orders, 
there are residuary or aberrant forms in some of the orders, 
which, to the systematist disagreeably, compel modifications of 
the characters that would apply to the majority of such orders, 
The fly ing Lemurs (Galeopitheci), the rodent Lemurs (Chetromys), 
74; the cases are very nearly parallel. ie 
ature, in short, is not so rigid a systematist as Man. ere 
tively adjusted. 
class 
