MAMMALIA 



poid or man-like Apes, viz. the Gorilla, Chimpanzee, 

 Ourang and Gibbon come next. 



Birds rank as high as a considerable number of 

 families of mammals, but nevertheless the vanguard 

 of mammals is far in advance of birds. The conti- 

 nents and oceans of the world are inhabited by more 

 than 3000 kinds or species of mammals. Whales, 

 Seals and Porpoises are true mammals, although they 

 inhabit the ocean. Their shape and limbs have been 

 modified merely to suit their watery environment. 



In the ages long since passed, known as the 

 Eocene and the Miocene, mammals were far more 

 numerous than they are to-day. In fact, during 

 those remote times they swarmed over the face 

 of the earth. The world continued to be a paradise 

 of sub-human animal life until man made his 

 appearance. 



With his chipped stone weapons he attacked and 

 slew the mammals, devoured their flesh, and made 

 coverings for his body with their pelts. In this 

 way a good many species or kinds of mammals 

 became extinct, and the rest were considerably 

 reduced in numbers. 



The Mammals which are mentioned in these 

 books are those which are known to inhabit Africa 

 south of the Zambesi and Cunene Rivers. The 

 afiimals are taken in classification order, ending 

 with the Pangolin and Aard Vark or Earth Hog. 

 which are the lowest in the evolutionary scale in 

 South Africa. 



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