1882. ] PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE EDENTATA. 363 
eaters are closely similar in structure, while those of Manis are formed 
upon a totally different type. In the former families the testes are 
placed exactly in the same situation, close to each other, lying on the 
rectum, between it and the bladder; the penis is quite rudimentary, 
consisting of a pair of small corpora cavernosa, not directly attached 
by their crura to the rami of the ischium, and having a glans scarcely 
larger than that of the clitoris of most mammals, and, as in birds and 
reptiles, without any true corpus spongiosum. The number and 
development of the accessory glands vary apparently in different 
species of both families. 
In the females of both Anteaters and Sloths the uterus is simple 
and globular, and the vagina, at least in the virgin state, is divided 
into two channels by astrong median partition. Lastly, the placen- 
tation, as far as it is known, if not identical, is similar in principle. 
The placenta of Cholepus has been fully described by Turner; it is 
deciduate, and composed of a number of lobes aggregated into a 
dome-like mass. There is nothing in the descriptions, certainly less 
complete, of the placenta of Zumandua and Cycloturus to show any 
differences except in detail of form. 
In Manis, on the other hand, the testes are totally different in 
position, lying in the inguinal canal. The penis is external and 
wel] developed. The uterus is truly bicornuate, the vagina not 
divided, and the placenta diffused and non-deciduate. All the 
organs and foetal membranes are formed very much on the plan of 
those of the typical Ungulata, without a trace of the special peculi- 
arities of the American Edentates. 
As regards the tegumentary system Myrmecophaga closely re- 
sembles Bradypus in the character of its hairy covering; while 
Manis, in its very remarkable horny scales, shows a type entirely 
different from both and from every other mammal. 
Many other minor considerations might be adduced ; but I think 
I have brought forward enough to establish the fact beyond reason- 
able question, that Munis, if allied at all to Myrmecophaga, 
must have separated from the original common stock before this 
had given off the Bradypodide—or, in other words, that the Sloths 
and Anteaters, with the Megatherioids intervening, are far more 
nearly allied to each other than either is to the Pangolins. 
It now remains to examine the position of the other families. 
Dasypodide. In many respects this family is remarkably specia- 
lized, more particularly in the characters of the integumentary 
structures, in which it differs from all known mammals. 
In dental characters it presents nothing fundamentally different 
from those of the Sloths. In lingual, salivary, and digestive organs, 
on the other hand, it is more nearly allied to the Anteaters, though 
presenting a less extreme form of modification, showing in fact one of 
the stages by which such modification may have been brought about. 
It is therefore so far a connecting link between these families. 
In the extremely important character of the presence of inter- 
locking accessory zygapophyses to the lumbar vertebre, and in the 
structure of the sternum and sternal ribs, it follows the type of Myr- 
