110 MARSUPIALIA. 



the animal can roll itself up like a"hedge-hog or porcupine, with 

 which latter it well compares in point of size. The chestnut 

 colored, soft and silky hair is so abundant at a certain season as 

 to half cover the spines, whilst at another, the hair entirely dis- 

 appears. It lives on ants, with their larvse and pupse. It takes 

 them with its extensile tongue, which it can protrude to a great 

 distance, and which is always covered with an adhesive secretion. 

 The Echidna digs for itself burrows in which it remains during 

 the dry season, coming out of the earth only during the rains. 

 It is supposed capable of enduring a long abstinence, and it has 

 intervals of suspended animation which continue for more than 

 three days at a time, and recur frequently when the animal is 

 kept in confinement. Its strength has been thought to exceed, 

 considering its size, "that of any other quadruped in existence." 



Ornithorhyncus, (Gr. ogvtg, ornis, a bird, and l ^/og, rhunchos, 

 a beak, so named from its bird-like bill.) 



Two species have been described, O.fuscus, (Lat. dusky,) and 

 O. rufus, (Lat. red,) but the latter differs -from the former only 

 in having the fur softer and of a redder tint. It is said that in 

 looking at this animal one would imagine that the beak of a shov- 

 eller-duck had been artificially fastened on the front of the head 

 of a small otter. The beak, which is broader at the tip than at 

 the base, is covered by a thick leathery skin. This skin projects 

 in the form of a loose flap from each mandible, and protects the 

 eyes from the mud in which the animal is perpetually dabbling 

 for food. There are no true teeth, yet back of each mandible 

 are two horny appendages resembling teeth, but without roots, 

 which are of a form verging to a square, with a broad uneven 

 surface, fitted rather for crushing than grinding. Beneath the 

 skin of the face are capacious cheek pouches for the carrying 

 of food. The eyes are bright, but very small and high set ; the 

 ears mere orifices which are opened and closed at the will of the 

 animal ; the feet have five well developed toes, all armed with 

 long, curved, and pointed claws, connected by a leathery web, 

 which in the fore feet extends considerably beyond the tips of 

 the claws, presenting a broad and powerful oar when in the wa- 

 ter, but folded back when the animal is digging in the earth. On 

 the hind feet the web reaches only to the termination of the toes. 

 In the male the feet are also armed with a stout, sharp, movable 

 spur, formerly regarded as highly poisonous. The tail is broad 

 and depressed ; the fur combines the properties of an aquatic and 

 also of a burrowing animal, readily expelling both water and dust. 

 A full grown ornithorhynchus is about two feet long, measuring 

 beak and tail. The general color is deep brown, with a white 



