48 



succulent vegetation that grows under the surface or in 

 meadows. They cannot progress far on land. 



The MANATEE (Manatus americanus), represented by a 

 specimen here, and by its skeleton, is found on the Gulf 

 side of Florida. While the seals, which remind one of this 

 creature, are carnivorous, the manatees are herbivorous, 

 their teeth being adapted for grinding. Two species only 

 are recognized. Another nearly related animal is called 

 Dugong, an example of whose skeleton is here seen. 

 Another genus with one species comprises, with the above, 

 the entire order. The latter is the Rvtina (Rhytina 

 stellcri), once abundant on the northwestern coast of 

 America, but now wholly extinct. 



THE TOOTHLESS ANIMALS. — Order Edentata. 



GROUP 50.— Not all of this order are entirely toothless, 

 though many of them are, and the remainder are so nearly 

 so, and having other affinities with the former, they are 

 more or less naturally classed together. 



The Sloths, Family Bradipodida;. Three genera and 

 twelve species of Sloths are known. Examples of the 

 three genera are seen here. They are essentially tree 

 animals; their hands and feet being adapted for climbing. 

 The wonderful extinct forms of South American cave de- 

 posits are among the most remarkable. The great mega- 

 therium is of this group. 



The Ant Eaters, Family Myrmecophagidce. This em- 

 braces three genera, entirely confined to South America. 

 But few species are known. The GREAT Ant Eater 

 being the largest. 



The Armadillos, Family Dasypodtdie, embrace seven 

 genera, each with a few species of curious armor-bearing 

 animals, of which the Peba {Tattisia peba) is a more 

 familiar kind, being found in Texas. All the other species 

 are confined to South America, where great fossil extinct 

 species are found. 



Family Manidce embraces three genera, being the only 



