ORDER EDENTATA. 263 



been hitherto impossible to find their mammse, we 

 are still ignorant whether these animals are vivi- 

 parous or oviparous. The singularities of their 

 skeleton are not less remarkable, especially on ac- 

 count of a sort of clavicle to the shoulders, placed 

 before the common clavicle, and analogous to a 

 similar bone in birds. Finally, besides five toes to 

 all the feet, the males have a spur on the hind-feet, 

 analogous to that of some gallinaceous birds. These 

 animals have no external ears, and their eyes are 

 very small. 



The Monotremes are found only in New Holland, 

 where they have been discovered since the settle- 

 ment of the English there. There are two genera 

 known. 



The Echidnes, (Echidna, Cuv. Tachyglossus, Illig), 

 otherwise Spiny Ant-eaters. 



Their elongated muzzle, terminated by a small 

 mouth, contain a tongue extensible, like that of the 

 Ant-eaters and Pangolins. They live, therefore, on 

 Ants, in the manner of these two genera. They 

 have no teeth, but their palate is furnished with 

 several ranges of small spines, directed backward. 

 -Their short feet have each five long toes, strong and 

 constructed for digging, and the whole upper part 

 of their body is covered with spines, like that of the 

 Hedgehog. It appears that in the moment of danger 

 they are also equally enabled to roll themselves 

 into a ball. Their tail is very short; their stomach 



