EDENTATES. 749 
foot. The clavicles and fore-arm are well developed. The epipubic or 
marsupial bones are large. 
The kangaroos feed on herbage, and are often hunted down on 
account of the damage which they do to pastures and crops. The 
sharp incisors are suited for cropping the grass and herbs, which the 
ridged and tuberculated molars crush. 
As the kangaroos are exclusively herbivorous, it is not surprising to 
. , find that the stomach is large and complex, with numerous saccules on 
its walls. The whole gut is long, and there is a well-developed coecum. 
Numerous fossil forms related to the kangaroos are found in Australia, 
some considerably larger than the existing forms. The gigantic Dzpro- 
todon austral’s, which was as large as a rhinoceros, is related both to 
the kangaroos and the phalangers. Except the S. American forms 
already mentioned, Diprotodont marsupials are unknown, either living 
or fossil, outside the Australian area. Forms related to the Polypro- 
todonts are, on the other hand, common as fossils in both Europe and 
America. In S. America, further, fossil marsupials related to the 
Dasyuridze occur ; and as these are not known elsewhere, their presence 
affords a further confirmation of the view that Australia and Patagonia 
were once connected. 
Sub-Class EUTHERIA 
EDENTATES 
The Edentates include a number of very distinct types, 
which require at least two orders—(a) the New World sloths, 
ant-eaters, and armadillos ; (4) the Old World pangolins and 
aard-varks. The modern forms are specialised survivors of 
waning and probably primitive stocks, and they show many 
interesting protective peculiarities of structure and habit 
which secure their persistence. Thus some are arboreal, 
others are burrowers, and many are covered with strong 
armature. 
While the existing sloths, ant-eaters, and armadillos are not nearly 
related to one another, the numerous fossil Edentates found in S. 
America connect them to a common stock. It is otherwise, however, 
with the pangolins and the aard-varks. Some authorities separate 
them (as Nomarthra or Effodientia) from the American Edentates 
(Xenarthra) ; but according to others there is little evidence that the 
pangolins and aard-varks are related to each other. In view of the 
uncertainty, it will be readily understood that few ‘‘ general characters” 
of Edentates can be given. Almost the only common characters of 
Edentates concern the dentition. Functional teeth may be absent, 
but the ant-eaters (Myrmecophagidee) are the only forms which still 
appear strictly edentulous. When present, the teeth are uniform, 
usually simple, without roots, and with persistent pulp. They are 
never present in the very front of the mouth, and they have not 
