490 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



thorhynchus and Echidna the one represented by a single 

 species (O. paradoxus\ and the other by two species (E. 

 hystrix and E. setosa). All are exclusively confined to Aus- 

 tralia and Tasmania. 



The Ornithorhynchus or Duck-mole is one of the most ex- 

 traordinary of Mammals. The body (fig. 186) resembles that 

 of a mole or small otter, and is covered with a close, short, 

 brown fur. The tail is broad and flattened. The jaws are 

 produced to form a beak just like that of a duck in appearance; 

 hence the name of " Duck-billed animal," often applied to it. 

 The margins of the jaw are sheathed with horn, and furnished 

 with transverse horny plates ; but there are no teeth. The 

 nostrils are placed at the apex of the upper mandible. The 

 legs are short, and the feet have five toes each, furnished with 



Fig. 186. Ornithorhynchus paradoxus. 



strong claws, which enable the animal to burrow with facility. 

 The toes are also united by a membrane or web, so that the 

 animal swims with great ease. The Ornithorhynchus is exclu- 

 sively found in Australia and Tasmania, and inhabits streams 

 and ponds. Its food consists chiefly, if not exclusively, of 

 insects, and the animal makes very extensive burrows on the 

 banks of the rivers which it frequents. The young are born 

 quite blind, and nearly naked, and the method in which they 

 obtain milk from the mother is somewhat obscure, as there are 

 no nipples, nor is there any marsupial pouch. It is certain, 

 however, that the beak of the young animal is extremely differ- 

 ent from what it is in the adult condition. 



The genus Echidna is represented by two species, E. hystrix 

 and E. setosa, both belonging to the Australian province. The 

 Echidna hystrix is the best-known species, and in some exter- 

 nal respects is not unlike a large hedgehog, having the back 

 covered with strong spines, interspersed with a general coating 

 of bristly hairs. The snout has not the form of a duck's bill, 



