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Monotr ernes are but a low group of creatures, characterised 

 by timid, quiet habits and indifferent bodily form. 



Marsupials, including Kangaroos, Wallabys, Phalangers, 

 Wombats, present great variety, but most of the two former 

 groups, though very active in habits, show too much specializa- 

 tion of their muscular activities to be well-proportioned ; the 

 Wombats, heavy burrowing animals ; Phalangers, more graceful 

 and of great activity. 



Edentates are an order in which almost, with exception^ 

 ugliness or grotesqueness of form is associated with sluggishness 

 of life and habit. They inhabit warm climates, and are well 

 protected by colouring, armour, or by a kind of low cunning, 

 which impels them to retreat from the haunts of other animals 

 by day and to seek their food at night. In illustration the 

 Sloths, Ant- Eaters, Armadillos, Pangolins may be mentioned, 

 and the special Earth Pig or Aard Verk. 



Rodents resemble Birds in the fact that the great majority 

 of them are of elegant form and active habits. A few exceptions 

 may be found in the case of the Porcupine, which has its 

 specialized method of defence and offence, but is an awkwardly- 

 shaped and generally sluggish animal. Such forms as Squirrels,. 

 Marmots, Beavers, Rats, Mice, Caveys, are instances of active, 

 diligent workers for their livelihood, with well-proportioned 

 shape of head, body, limbs and tails. 



Cetacea comprises Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, and among 

 these there is hardly one which can claim any beauty of form, 

 for the great wide aperture of the mouth and insignificant head 

 and horizontally-placed tail are not made up for by the tapering, 

 lithe, active body. In this class of Mammals the habits are 

 more active than the unprepossessing bodies would suggest. 



Sirenia. Another order of Aquatic Mammals includes 

 Manatis and Dugongs, are much less active in their mode of 

 life than Cetaceans, and do not inhabit the open seas as do the 

 latter, but frequent shallow bays, estuaries, lagoons and large 

 rivers, seeking their food at the bottoms of these, and feeding 

 largely on aquatic plants. They are said to be stupid and 

 inoffensive, and to be endowed with little intelligence, and, 

 without doubt, are very clumsy and ill-favoured creatures. So 

 they afford signal examples of our position that sluggishness 

 and ugliness are generally associated. 



