MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 355 



claw, are considerably shorter than the four mid- 

 dle ones; the exterior, or sixth, is seated much 

 higher than the rst, and resembles a strong 

 sharp spur. All the legs are hairy above; the 

 fore feet are naked both above and below. The 

 internal edges of the under mandible or jaw 

 (which is narrower than the upper,) are channel- 

 led with numerous stria? as in a Duck's bill. The 

 nostrils are small and round, and are situated 

 about a quarter of an inch from the tip of the bill, 

 and are about the eighth of an inch distant from 

 each other. There is no appearance of teeth ; 

 the palate is removed, but seems to resemble 

 that of a Duck ; the tongue also is wanting in the 

 specimen. The ears, or auditory foramina, are 

 placed about half an inch below the eyes. They 

 appear like a pair of oval holes about the eighth 

 of an inch in diameter, there being no external 

 ear. A little beyond the beak, are situated two 

 smallish, oval, white spots in the lower part of 

 which are imbedded the eyes, or at least the parts ] 

 allotted to the animal for some kind of vision ; 

 for from the thickness of the fur, and the small- 

 ness of the organs, they seem to have been but 

 obscurely calculated for distinct vision, and are 

 probably like those of the Mole, and some other 

 animals of that tribe ; the whole apparent diame- 

 ter of the cavity in which they are placed, not 

 exceeding the tenth of an inch.'* 



" When we consider the general form of this 

 A A 2 



