ORUEliS OF MAMMALIA. 341 



closely as regards the general structure of tlie skeleton, and especially as to tlie 

 conformation of tlje feet ; but tliey possess also eliaracters wliieh ally tlieni to 

 tlie Ungulata aiul to the Jiodentia. One of the most strilcing characters is tlie 

 presence in the front of each jaw of a pair of huge incisor teetli, winch resemble 

 the corresponiling teeth of the l^odent animals in having chisel-shaped crowns, 

 and in growing tliroughout the life of tlie animal. 



Order IX. Tu.yodontia. 



This is a thinl extinct order of Mammals, comprising certain large fossil 

 quadrupeds from tbe later Tertiary ileposits of South America, the true rela- 

 tionships of wdiich are quite uncertain. The molar and pncmolar teeth have 

 fl.at gi'inding crowns, hut they grow from permanent pulps, and continue 

 growing tliroughout the life of the animal— a feature specially characteristic of 

 many Rodents. Tlie incisors resemble those of the Ungulates generally, and 

 tlie canines are small, and in the upper jaw are deciduous. 



Order X. Hyracoidea. 



This order includes only a single small genus (H/jra:/-), of wliich 

 onl}' two or tliree species are known. Tliey are all gregai'ious little 

 animals, mostly living in holes of the rocks, and capable of domes- 

 tication. One species (}f>/ra.v C'apensis) occurs commonly in South 

 Africa, and is known to the Dutch colonists as the " Badger." An- 

 other species (Hi/ra.v S'l/riacus) occurs in the rocky jiarts of Arabia 

 and Palestine, and is believed to be the " coney " of Scripture. They 

 present many curious points of resemblance to the gigantic Rhino- 

 ceros, and are often placed in the same order, the similaiity being 

 especially great as regards the form of the molar teeth. The incisor 

 teeth of the upper jaw ai'e long and curved, with sharp, cutting 

 edges, and they grow from a permanent pulp, thus re.senibUng the 

 teeth of the genuine Rodents (such as the Rabbit or Beaver). 



Order XL Proboscidea. 



The onlv living animals whicli belong to the order of the Proboscid- 

 eans are tlie Elejihants, of wliich there are only two well-markeil exist- 

 ing species — namely, the Indian Elephant and the African Elephant. 

 The name of the order is derived from the fact that the nose is ]ii-o- 

 longed into a long cylindrical trunk, or " i)roboscis," which is highly 

 muscular, and which terminates in a finger-shaped lobe, Iielow which 

 are placed the apertures of the nostrils (fig. 247). The jiroboscis is the 

 sole organ of prehension j)ossessed by the animal, and is employed 

 to take up water, and also to introduce into the moutli the vegetable 

 substances upon which the Ele])hant feeds. The Eh'phants, in fact, 

 23 



