182 Dana on the Classification of Animals 
The Edentates are also large beasts, and the first impulse, 
under the influence of the sense of sight, is to declare them like- 
wise Megasthenes, because they are big enough to beso. But 
literally microsthenic in life-system. Compared even with 
quick-moving Rodent, the slow Sloth is muscularly feeble; for 
relative strength is to be measured, not by the single blow that 
may be given, but by the product of the strength of a single 
blow into the number of times this blow may be repeated in & 
given time, as for instance, in twenty-four hours. d 
The Edentates appear therefore to be as truly degradational 
Microsthenes, as the Mutilates are degradational Megasthenes. 
They show their feebleness according to the elliptic method, m 
their head and jaws to an extent not manifested even among 
Mutilates. 
The Edentate type exhibits its inferiority to that of all other 
placental Mammals also in admitting more or less of a cour 
mingling of Reptilian characteristics with the Mammalian, as P- 
ars in the scale-made or shield-like armor of many species, the 
eeble sensibility of all, and several peculiarities in the skeleton: 
—showing thus that the type holds a position in some Tespe®” 
between those of Mammals and Reptiles, or at the extreme lower 
end of the placental series. 
D. Additional Observations. : 
_1. Grade among groups.—The groups under the several subdi- 
visions in the proposed classification show a gradation 1m Ta®™ 
corresponding with their position. Moreover, the third ae 
in the higher subdivisions of the animal kingdom, and 10 
would have to go, because metasthenic, at the foot of the hi her 
vision, when they have the characteristics of a superior vu 
SToup, and not those of a hypotypic; and the Suideaus W 
