Classification of Mammalia. 179 



The marsupials being zoologically inferior, they are geologi- 

 cally the first created. Their abnormal forms, the dispropor- 

 tions of some of their limbs, illustrate the first evolution of 

 the mammalian activity. Their bringing forth their young 

 in an imperfect state of development, and the existence of an 

 external pouch to protect that progeny, assign to them an in- 

 ferior rank. The fact that there are among them carnivorous, 

 insectivorous, and herbivorous types, indicates clearly that 

 they combine these groups of which they are the prototype 

 in the Creator's thought, and their precursors in time. 



As the development of the class went on, and the foresha- 

 dowed groups appeared as distinct and independent manifesta- 

 tions of the mammalian organization, the marsupialian group 

 was preserved within the limits of its original conception up to 

 our epoch, in which it stands as an odd group which reminds 

 us of a past order of things. In the actual fauna, Marsupialia 

 are an isolated type which has deceived and misled all the sys- 

 tematic writers ; still combining characters of several other 

 types, if it is not understood that they are prototypic, and 

 the lowest, they will give rise to contests as to their position in 

 the system. 



No facts illustrate better the immateriality of the relations 

 which exist between the various groups of this class : they 

 may foreshadow, they may prophetize, but they will continue 

 to exist. There are no material transformations, no material 

 permutations, from one group to another ; for if such was the 

 case, those first created groups, combining those of a later 

 appearance, would not be found possessing the same material 

 attributes, the same circle of vital activity as before. On the 

 other hand, when the foreshadowed groups appear, they lose 

 their zoological importance, and accordingly are confined to a 

 geographical province physically lower, to remind us of their 

 low position in the system. 



| 2. But if Edentata are zoologically the lowest of the class, 

 they should have been created the first in time, or at least be 

 contemporaneous with Marsupialia. As far as our present 

 knowledge respecting the fossil remains of mammals goes, 

 Edentata are not known prior to the miocene strata of the 

 tertiary epoch ; but in those very strata, their remains are so 



M 2 



