DUCKBILL AND ECHIDNA. 



birds and reptiles, and besides those mentioned one of the 

 most obvious is the long, toothless jaws (there are eight 

 horny teeth in the duckbill), which are long and narrow in 

 the Echidna, or broad and flat in the duckbill (Ornithor- 

 hijnclins parado.rus Blumenbach), where it is covered by a 

 leathery integument ; the external ear is Avanting. 



Fig. 494. Skeleton of Echidna hi/.^t/'ix.From Brehm's Thierleben. 



In the aquatic duckbill the feet are webbed, with claws 

 of moderate size. It is covered with a soft fur, and is about 

 half a metre (17-53 inches) long. Its 

 habits are like those of a muskrat, fre- 

 quenting rivers and pools in Australia 

 and Van Diemaii's Land, sleeping and 

 breeding in holes extending from un- 

 der the water up above its level into 

 the banks, and with an outlet on shore. 

 It lives on mollusks, worms, and 

 water-insects. Young duckbills, five 

 cm. long, have been found in their 

 nests. 



The spiny ant-eater (Figs. 493 and 

 404) is represented by three species, 

 the Echidna hystrix Cuvier, of Aus- 

 tralia, E. Lawesii Ramsay, from Port 

 Moresby, New Guinea, also by a re- 

 cently discovered form inhabiting the 



> pelvis of the Kangaroo; 



elevated portions of -Northern J\ew marsupial bones. 

 Guinea, and called by Gervais Acanthoglossus Bruijnii. In 

 these singular animals the bill is long and slender, tooth- 



495. One half of 



