1. ECHIDNA. 377 



1. ECHIDNA. 



Type. 

 Echidna, Q. Ouv. Tahl. EUm. p. 143 (1798), nee /. R. 



Forst. Enehirid. Hist. Nat. p. 81 (1788 *) (Pisces) E. aculeata. 



Tachyglossus, Bl. Prodr. Syst. Mamm. p. 114 (1811) .... E, aculeata. 

 Echinopus, G. Fiach. Zoogn. iii. p. 691 (1814) E. aculeata. 



Toes 5 — 5, all provided with, claws, of which the anterior are 

 broad, little curved, and directed forwards, that of the pollex similar 

 to the others although smaller ; the posterior are slenderer, curved 

 outwards ; the second, or second and third, very long, much exceeding 

 the fourth and fifth; that of the hallux short, blunt, and rounded. 

 Beak about as long as the rest of the head ; straight or slightly 

 curved upwards. 



Skull smooth, rounded, depressed. Anterior nares situated on 

 the upper surface of the tip. Supraorbital edges rounded, without 

 trace of ridges, but with a blunt conical process marking the junction 

 of the orbital and temporal fossae. Surface of brain-case not ridged. 

 Palate (compared to that of Proechidna) broad and but slightly 

 concave, imperfect in the middle line posteriorly. Length of 

 anterior palatine foramina about one fourth the whole length of the 

 palate. 



Vertebrae : — Cervical 7, dorsal 16, lumbar 3, sacral 3, caudal 12 ; 

 total 41. 



Habits. Terrestrial, fossorial, myrmecophagous. 



Range. That of the only species. 



The animals belorging to this genus have been divided into 

 several different species ; but a careful consideration of their cha- 

 racters shows that, although the range of variation is very large, 

 yet aU the intermediate stages appear to exist between the most 

 widely separated forms. Three geographical races, however, seem 

 to deserve recognition by name — a northern, central, and southern : 

 but their distinguishing characters are too slight and too inconstant 

 to justify their specific distinction. A fuller and more detailed 

 account of these characters and their probable origins has been 

 given by the present writer (P. Z^ S. 1885, p. 329). 



1. Echidna aculeata t. 

 a. Echidna aculeata, var. lawesi. 



Echidna (Tachyglossus) lawesi, Rams. P. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. 

 p. 32 (1877); id. op. cit. iii. p. 244 (1879). 



* No species being mentioned as the type of Forster's genus, and the descrip- 

 tion being unrecognizable, his name is of no more validity than a "nomen 

 nudmm" and cannot therefore prevent the use of OuTier's name for the present 

 animal. 



t a. Spines of back nearly or quite hiding the hair. 

 Pur of head, belly, and legs mainly composed 

 of flattened bristles. Third hind claw much 



