CHAPTER III 



THE FOOD OF ANIMALS— LOWER MAMMALS OF 

 INSECTIVOROUS HABIT— MAMMALS POOR IN 

 TEETH (Edentata) 



Since more than half the kinds of land animals now living are 

 insects, it is not surprising that these are largely preyed upon 

 by other forms as well as by members of their own class. 

 Amongst the most interesting of insect-eating Mammals, besides 

 those just described, are certain members of the peculiar and 



Fig. 333. — Great Ant-Eater {MyrmecopTinga jubatd 



archaic order Edentata {i.e. Toothless Mammals), rather unfor- 

 tunately so called, not because they are all entirely devoid 

 of teeth, though this is the case with some, but because front 

 teeth are absent, while it may be added that those present are 

 very peculiar in structure. Edentates include the Great Ant- Eater 

 and the Cape Ant- Eater. The Great Ant- Eater {Myrmecophaga) 

 (fig- ZZ^ is a native of South America, and is one of those animals 

 of which it is difficult as a rule to see much in the Zoo, because 

 it spends most of its time curled up in the straw. It is sufficiendy 



