Order 6. 



EDENTATA. 



115 



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.t 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. ; Tachyghssus, Illig. : sometimes called Sjpiny 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. 

 Then- 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 danger, they have also the faculty of rolling themselves into a baU. 

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



Two species have been discovered, — the Spiny Echidna 

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

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

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

 sider the difference as only arising from age. 



The Duckbills {Ornithorynchus, 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 

 small transverse laminae. They have no teeth ex- 

 cept at the bottom of the mouth, where there are two on each side of both jaws, without roots, with 

 flat crowns, and composed, as in the Orycterope, of small vertical tubes. Their fore-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 theu' flattened tail, 

 indicate aquatic habits. Their tongue is to 

 a certain extent double ; one in the bill beset 

 with villosities ; and another at the base of 

 the first, thicker, and furnished anteriorly 

 with two Uttle fleshy points. The stomach 

 is small, oblong, and has its outlet near 

 the entrance ; caecum small ; and there are 

 numerous salient and parallel laminae 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. Fig. 53.— The Ornitliorynchus. 



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

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



Monotremata are no* oviparous, but must resemble in their repro- 

 duction the Marsupiuta. The younjj have never yd been met with 

 attached to the mamma* of their dam, but from the structure of tho 

 bealt in very younjf Ornitkorhynci, which have been found in the 

 burrows, there can be little doubt that the mouth forms, at first, a 

 suctorial disli, adapted to hold on an even flat surface.] 



t There is reason to suspect that this statement is without founda- 

 tion, as the animals never attempt to employ the spur as a weapon of 

 defence. — Ed, 



Hj. 52 — Erliidna 



Shrews. [Prof. Owen has since demonstrated them to be mammary, 

 although these animals (like the true Cetacea) have no teats or nip- 

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



• Travellers have lately asserted, that they have been ascertained 

 to produce eggs. Should this prove to be the case, the Monotremes 

 must, in some sort, be considered as a particular class of animals ; but 

 It is much to be wished, that some competent anatomist would minutely 

 describe these eggs, their internal origin, and their developement 

 ^ter exclusion. [Prof. Owen has since conclusively shown that the 



