Volume 1

A picture book of evolution / by Dennis Hird.

  • Dennis Hird
Date:
1906-1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A picture book of evolution / by Dennis Hird. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that it requires a special sub-order for its reception.” It is a larger animal than any other insectivor, and is about the size of a cat. It inhabits the Oriental region. It has remarkable folds of skin (the patagium) between the neck and fore-limb, between the fore-limb and the hind-limb, between the hind-limb and the tail, by means of which it is able to fly. The patagium of this creature is mid¬ way between that of the flying-squirrel and the bat. In this and other ways it is a real connecting link, and the utmost interest attaches to the fact that it is distinctly connected with Lemurs. Shipley and Macbride, in their excellent book on zoology, say: “ The most interesting circum¬ stance about the insectivors is the fact that when, by means of fossils, we trace back the higher groups of mammals, they all seem to merge imper¬ ceptibly into insectivors—i.e., the primitive insect- eaters. “There is really good ground for supposing that the living insectivors, though modified in special details, nevertheless represent, so far as their general organisation is concerned, the earliest type of (Eutheria) perfect mammals which appeared on the globe. From these original insectivors advance seems to have taken place along five lines :— “ I. Some insectivors took to attacking larger prey, including their own less fortunate relations, and gradually developed into the Carnivora, or flesh-eating mammals. These are tigers, cats, dogs, wolves, etc. “ II. Some became vegetable feeders, and gave rise to the great group of hoofed animals, relying either on their swiftness, or size, or strength, for defence. These are horses, cows, elephants, etc.
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