72 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist. 1 " [July 2. 1894. 
The non-placenta I mammals (in which no 
connection is established between the fetus and 
the mother) are represented only by two orders, 
viz., monotremata and inarsupialia. The first 
contains only two 'genera, both belonging to 
Australia, viz., the Duck mole (Ornithorhyncus) 
and the Porcupine Ant-eater (Echidna ). The order 
marsupialia, so named owing to its members 
possessing a " marsupium " or pouch in which 
the young are carried, includes the kangaroo, 
opossums, bandicoots and wombats. The 
order Edentata is the lowest of the placental 
mammals. The name is hardly a correct one, 
since it is only in two genera that there are 
absolutely no teeth, though the development of 
the teeth is very imperfect in all. The f 
the edentates are furnished with long and 
powerful claws, and the skin often covered 
with bony plates or horny scales. Ip. this order 
are included the sloths, ant-eaters and armadillos. 
Sirenia and Cetacea constitute the fourth and 
fifth orders of mammalia. The first-men! iioni d 
includes the Dugongs and .Manatees, while the 
order Cetacea comprises the whales, dolphins and 
porpoises. The members of both orders are 
characterised by a powerful caudal fin which 
differs from that of the fishes in being placed 
horizontally, and in being a huge expansion of 
the integuments not supported by bony rays ; the 
hind limbs are wholly wanting, and the anterior 
limbs are converted into swimming paddles or 
" flippers.'' In the Cetacea the nostrils are placed 
at the top ot the head) constituting the so- 
called " blow-holes " or "spiracles." The body 
of the Sirenians is covered with scattered 
bristles, but that tne Cetaceans is generally 
completely hairless. The head of the latter is as 
a rule of disproportionally large size, and is 
not separated from the body by any distinct 
constriction or neck. The skin of the Greenland 
whale is underlaid by a thick layer of subcu- 
taneous fat which varies from eight to fifteen 
inches in thickness, and is known as the 
"blubber." The blubber serves partly to give 
buoyancy to the body, but more especially to 
protect the animal against extreme cold. It is 
the blubber which is the chief object of the 
whale fishery, as it yields the whale oil of 
commerce. In the lateral depressions of the 
whale's palate occur an enormous number of 
horny plates, constituting what is known as the 
" baleen" plates, from which the whale bone of 
commerce is derived. The porpoise, too, is often 
killed for the sake of its oil. Order VI. — TJn- 
gulata. — The order of the Ungulate or hoofed 
animals is one of the largest and most im- 
portant of all the divisions of the mammalia. 
The following are the characteristics of the 
order : — All the four limbs are present, and that 
portion of the toe which touches the ground 
is always encased in a greatly expanded nail 
constituting a hoof. There are always two sets 
of enamelled teeth, and the molar teeth are 
massive, with broad crowns, adopted for grind- 
ing vegetable substan3es ; no clavicles are present 
In accordance with the number of the digits, 
the order Ungulata is divided into two primary 
sections : the Perissodactyla, in which the toes 
or hoofs are odd in number (one or three), and 
the Artiodactyla, in which the toes are even in 
number (two or four). 
G UANOS. 
The term guano is properly applied only to the 
dung of birds and some other animals ; but the 
name has been erroneously used to describe various 
other mixtures and prepa ration^ that are in no way 
entitled to be so called. 
Peruvian guano may be described as a general 
manure composed of the excrements of fish-eating 
birds, and containing nitrogenous compound?, 
phosphates, and potash. 
High-class Peruvian guanoisrich in nitrogenous 
matter, a large proportion of which is soluble. 
As formerly exported it was capable of yielding 
from 8 to 12 per cent of ammonia, part of which 
was derived from ammonia salt.-, and part (less 
than 1 per cent) from nitrates. Phosphates were 
low, seldom exceeding 30 per cent, but from one- 
quarter to one-half of the phosphates were soluble. 
The amount of potash was usually from 3 to 6 
per cent. It cannot be now had of this quality. 
Low-class Peruvian guano, us now offered in 
the market, is comparatively poor in nitrogenous 
matter, yielding from 3 to 5 per cent of ammonia. 
The phosphates are correspondingly high, viz., 
from 30 to 50 per cent, hut the proportion of 
soluble phosphate is much smaller than in high- 
class Peruvian guano. Potash occurs to a very 
small extent, viz., about 1 to 3 per cent. 
Low-class guanos are formed originally from 
high-class guanos, by the washing out of soluble 
constituents by rain, &c, and their composition 
varies greatly according to the amount of washing 
they have undergone. 
Genuine Peruvian guano frequently contains a 
large proportion of stony insoluble matter. It 
ought to be riddled before purchasing. 
Fortified Penman Guanos, also called by 
various names, such as improved, equalized, &C. 
Such guanos are mixtures, with low-class Peru- 
vian guano for a basis. Sulphate of ammonia is 
added, and perhaps also other nitrogenous matter, 
to bring them up to the guaranteed analysis, say 
from 8 to 10 per cent ammonia. 
Dissolved Peruvian Guano. — That is usually 
Peruvian guano dissolved in sulphuric acid, and 
fortified with sulphate of ammonia so as to make a 
strong, active manure. 
Ichaboe Guano. — A true guano, but of recent 
formation. It is very rich in nitrogenous matter, 
which yields from 10 to 16 per cent of ammonia, 
but a large part of the nitrogenous matter is in 
the form of feathers, which are insoluble and of 
low manurial value, otherwise it resembles high- 
class Peruvian guano. The total phosphates vary 
from 18 to 30 per cent, of which from a fourth to 
a half is usually soluble. There is seldom as much 
as 2 per cent potash present. 
Other commercial guanos are the Patagonian 
(2 to 3 per cent ammonia and 30 to 35 per cent of 
phosphate), Bolivian guano (2 to 8 per cent 
ammonia and 20 to 50 per cent of phosphate), 
and Maldive Islands guano (a trace of ammonia 
and 70 to 75 per cent of phosphate. 
Fish Guano. — Derived from fish-curing yards, 
and consisting of the heads and offal of fish,* dried 
and ground. Properly speaking, it is not a guano. 
High-class fish guano contains nitrogenous 
matter, yielding from 10 to 12 per cent of 
ammonia, but ic is in the form of insoluble 
albuminous compounds, which only slowly de 
