ECHIDNA HYSTRIX. 305 



?atlier smaller^ and that of the outer toe Is the short- 

 est, being not more than a quarter of an inch in length. 

 The Echidna being a burrowing animal, it would ap- 

 pear that the broad strong claws of the fore-feet are 

 for digging out the earth, and the large hollow claws 

 of the hind-feet are to enable the animal to cast 

 away the loose soil, and to accomplish this, the foot 

 is twisted in such a manner that the sides of these 

 claws He on the ground, and the concave part Is be- 

 hind. On the heel of the hind-foot of the male, (as 

 in the Omithorhpichus,) is a strong curved horny 

 spur, the point of which is directed backwards and 

 upwards — It is usually about 4 or 5 lines In length. 

 The skin of the Echidna is remarkably thick, to 

 give firm attachment to the strong spines with which 

 the upper surface of the body is covered; the average 

 length of these spines is about one inch and three 

 quarters, and they are very stout and strong ; they 

 commence at the back of the head, cover the whole 

 back of the animal as well as the shoulders, and ex- 

 tend a little way down on the sides of the body ; are 

 for the most part directed backwards and upwards, 

 and those on each side of the back are also directed 

 inwards, so that they cross each other at the mesial 

 line; on the rump is a large tuft of these spines which 

 appear to radiate from two centres, and hide the 

 small tuberculous tail ; the head, legs, and the whole 

 of the under parts, as well as the sides of the body, 

 are well clothed with very stiff and bristly blackish 

 brown hairs; the spines are of a dirty- yellowish- 

 white colour, but blackish at the point ; the ears are 

 u 



