CHAPTER I 



THE ORDERS OF MAMMALS 



The living mammals of the world, as distinguished from those which are extinct, or fossil, may 

 be divided into thirteen grand divisions, called Orders. The order is the foundation of mamma- 

 lian arrangement. Without adequate knowledge of these divisions, a clear understanding of the 

 relationships of mammals is quite impossible. 



It is customary with technical writers to begin with the lowest forms of life, and toil upward 

 toward the highest ; but it is very discouraging to the young student to find the most interesting 

 forms the farthest away. Frequently the most interesting animals are never reached! For many 

 reasons, it is best that the general student should study first the forms that are most important, 

 and also most interesting, and thus make sure of them. We therefore begin our studies of the 

 animal kingdom with the highest forms, and adopt the latest names that have come into use 

 amongst zoologists. 



While the great majority of the examples cited will be North American, a few from other con- 

 tinents will be introduced to complete the chain of important facts. 



THE ORDERS OF LIVING MAMMALS. 



ORDER. PRONUNCIATION. MEANING. EXAMPLES. 



Primates Pri'matz First order Man ; apes and monkeys. 



Ferae, or Carnivora. . . .Fe're j W'll ft 1st ( Cats, dogs, bears, weasels. 



Pinnipedia Pin-ni-pe'dia Fin-footed Sea-lions, seals, walrus. 



Insectivora In-sec-tiv'o-rah Insect-eaters Moles and shrews. 



Chiroptera Ki-rop'ter-ah Wing-handed .... Bats and flying-" foxes." 



Glires, or Rodentia. . . .Gli'rcz Gnawers Hares, gophers, rats, squirrels. 



Ungulata Un-gu-la'tah Hoofed Cattle, deer, sheep, swine, tapirs. 



Cete Se'te Whales Whales, porpoises, dolphins. 



Sirenia Si-re'ne-a Sea-cows Manatee and dugong. 



Edentata E-den-ta'ta Toothless Armadillos, sloths and ant-eaters. 



Effodientia Ef-fo-de-en'shia Diggers Pangolin and aardvark. 



Marsupialia Mar-su-pi-a'li-a Pouched Opossum, kangaroo. 



Monotremata . Mon-o-trem'a-ta Single duct Platypus and echidna. 



