EDENTATA. 



1-7 



or oviparous.* The singularities of their skeleton are not less remarkable ; there being a sort 

 of clavicle common to both shoulders, placed before the ordinary clavicle, and analogous to 

 the furcula of birds. Lastly, in addition to five claws on each foot, the males have a peculiar 

 spur on the hind ones, perforated by a canal which transmits a liquid secreted by a gland 

 situated on the inner surface of the thigh : it is asserted that the wounds it inflicts are 

 venomous.f These animals have no external conch to the ear, and their eyes are very small. 



The Monotremes are found only in New Holland, where they have been discovered since 

 the settlement of the English. There are two genera known. 



The Echidnas {Echidna, Cuv. ; Tachyylossus, Illig. : sometimes called Spiny Ant-eaters). 

 The elongated slender muzzle of these animals, terminated by a small mouth, and containing an exten- 

 sile tongue, resembles that of the Ant-eaters and Pangolins, and like them, they feed on Ants. They 

 have no teeth, but their palate is provided with several ranges of small spines, directed backwards. 

 Their short feet have each five long and very stout claws, fitted for burrowing ; and all the upper part 

 of their body is covered with spines, as in a Hedgehog, [but much larger and more powerful]. It 

 appears that in the moment of clanger, they have also the faculty of rolling themselves into a ball. 

 The tail is verv short ; stomach ample and nearly globular, and the ceccum of middle size. 



Two species have been discovered, — the Spiny Echidna 

 (E. hysfrix), completely covered with large spines, — and 

 the Bristly Echidna (E. selosa), covered with hair, 

 among which the spines are half-hidden. Some con- 

 sider the difference as only arising from age. 



The Duckbills (Ornit/wrync/ius, Blumenbach ; 

 Platypus, Shaw). 



Muzzle elongated, and at the same time singularly 

 enlarged and flattened, presenting the greatest ex- 

 ternal resemblance to the bill of a Duck, and the 

 more so as its edges are similarly furnished with 

 n e . 52 — Echidna small transverse lamina:. They have no teeth ex- 



cept at the bottom of the mouth, where there are two on each side of both jaws, w ithout roots, with 

 flat crowns, and composed, as in the Orycterope, of small vertical tubes. Their forc-feet have a 

 membrane which not only connects the toes, but extends beyond the claws : in the hinder, the mem- 

 brane reaches only to the base of the claws ; two characters which, in addition to their flattened tad, 

 indicate aquatic habits. Their tongue is to 

 a certain extent double ; one in the bill beset 

 w ith villositics ; and another at the base of 

 the first, thicker, and furnished anteriorly 

 with two little fleshy points. The stomach 

 is small, oblong, and has its outlet near 

 the entrance; ceccum small ; ami there are 

 numerous salient and parallel lamina; in the 

 course of the intestines. The penis has only 

 two tubercles. These animals inhabit the 

 rivers and marshes of New Holland, and 

 particularly the neighbourhood of Port 

 JackSOn. F'K- M.— The OrnW.orynchui. 



Two species only are known, one with smooth and thin reddish fur (O. paradoxus, Blum.); the other with 

 blackish-brown fur, flat, and somewhat frizzled. These are perhaps only rarietiei of age. 



BhfOWI. [Prof. Owen bat ilnce demonstrated them to be mammary, 

 although these animal* (like the true Cftocfa) hive tm tent* or nip- 

 plei, the lacteal secretion transuding by a number of minute pores.] 



• Travellers have lately asserted, that they hive been ascertained 

 to produce !\\<. Should this prove to be the case, the Monotremes 

 must, in somsj sort, to- ronsid'-ri'il at a particular class of animals ; hut 

 It it ti m h t.< io- w i.toii, e. ■ mAtomUcwoald minutely 



deiaiba these fco, their Internal origin, aiol tio Ir d 

 titer cX'lusioii. [Prof. Owtn bus since . oik lusivcly shown that the 



M;„nlremalii are no. ovipaous, but must resemble In their rrt.ro- 

 duetlon thr limupiata. The joiing hmti - en mat with 



attached to the niaiiiin.r of their dam, but from the structure of the 

 beak in very young OnssMorAjnici, which < round in th« 



hurroivs, there can In- hole doubt that the mouth (onus, at first, a 

 loetotisvl disk, adapted to hold on an rw-ii flat surface.] 



-t 'I'll. to so rpt}l ' tii »t thll staliiiirnt Is ssuhout lounda* 



I the animals never attempt to employ the spur as a we 



