ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 



321 



have a spur on the hind-legs. The only known species is the Orni- 

 thorhynclms paradoxus. 



The other genus of Monotremes comprises the Spiny Ant-eaters 

 {Echidna or Tachyglogsus), which are not unlike large hedgehogs in 

 appearance. The snout is very long, and is enclosed in a continuous 

 skin till close upon its extremity, where there is a small aperture for 

 the protrusion of a long and flexible tongue. There are no teeth, or 

 any organs to act as teeth. The feet have five toes each, and are 



Fig. 227.— Monotremata. OrnWhorhynclius paradoxus, Australia. 



furnished with strong digging-claws, but the toes are not webbed. 

 The skin is covered with strong prickly spines interspersed with 

 bristly hair. The common Australian species (Echidna hystrix) 

 measures from fifteen to eighteen inches in length, and is a noc- 

 turnal animal. It lives in burrows, and feeds upon insects, which it 

 captures by protruding its long sticky tongue. Another species is 

 found in Tasmania ; and two species are known to occur in New 

 Guinea. 



