_ To the fourth, Glires: but, unless you know the peculiar
characteristics by which each order is distinguished, you will never be
able to recollect the answers I have given to your desultory questions
this evening. I have, in my pocket-book, a short account of each order,
which I yesterday wrote out for Louisa, and which I should wish you to
copy neatly, into a book devoted to the purpose of observation on
natural history. Mr. Bernard then gave to Louisa a paper, containing
the following account:
The _Primates_, which is the first order of the class MAMMALIA, have
four parallel front, or cutting teeth, in each jaw; except in some
species of bats, which have either two only, or none. They have one
canine tooth on each side, in both jaws. The females have two pectoral
mammae, or breasts. The two fore feet resemble hands, having fingers,
generally furnished with flattened, oval nails. Their food is both
animal and vegetable. The principal animals in this order are, man,
the ape and lemur tribes, and the bats.
2nd. The _Bruta_ have no front teeth in either jaw: their feet are armed
with strong, blunt, and hoof-like nails. Their form is, to appearance,
clumsy, and their pace usually slow. Their food is principally
vegetable. None of the animals of this order are found in Europe: they
consist of the sloths, the ant-eaters, the rhinoceros, elephant, and
manati.
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