I04 



CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



character of the cheek teeth, however, and in the nature of the 

 digits they are much more like the tapir and rhinoceros. Each 

 fore-foot has four toes, and each hind-foot three, all of which, 

 except the innermost toe of the hind - foot, which is clawed, 

 possess small rounded hoofs. 



The " coney " of the English Bible, otherwise known as the 

 Syrian Hyrax {Procavia Syriacd) may be taken as a type. " The 



k.vN, 



Fig 72. — The Abyssinian Hyrax ^Procavia Abyssmtca) 



conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the 

 rocks " (Prov. xxx. 26). The illustration (fig. 72) represents a 

 similar species, the Abyssinian Hyrax [P. Abyssinica). 



Order 10. — Hoofed Mammals (Ungulata) 



This very large and important order includes animals in 

 which the limbs are modified for the sole purpose of terrestrial 

 progression, while the organization generally is adapted to the 

 herbivorous habit, as more particularly seen in the grinding 

 crowns possessed by the cheek teeth. 



Two sub-orders are recognized: I. the Odd-toed Ungulates 

 (Perissodactyla); and II. the Even-toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), 

 I. Odd -TOED Ungulates (Perissodactyla). — This sub -order 

 embraces the three families of: i. Tapirs, 2. Rhinoceroses, and 

 3. Horses, in all of which there is an odd number of toes on the 

 hind-foot, and generally on the fore-foot as well. A much more 

 important distinction, however, is found in the fact that the third 



