254 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [part iv. 



Family 84.— ECHIDNID^. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



The Eclddiia, or Australian Hedgehog, although quite as re- 

 markable in internal structure as the Ornithorhynchus, is not so 

 peculiar in external appearance, having very much the aspect of 

 a hedgehog or spiny armadillo. The two species of this genus 

 are very closely allied ; one inhabits East and South Australia, 

 the other Tasmania. 



Extinct Echidnidce. — Eemains of a very large fossil species of 

 Echidna have lately (1868) been discovered at Darling Downs 

 in Australia. 



Remark on the Distribution of the Monotremata. 



This order is the lowest and most anomalous of the mammalia, 

 and nothing resembling it has been found among the very 

 numerous extinct animals discovered in any other part of the 

 world than Australia. 



