EDENTATxV. 



va 



or oviparous.* The singularities of their skeleton are not less remarkable; there being a sort 

 of elaviele common to both shoulders, placed before the ordinary clavicle, and analogous to 

 the furcaia of birds. Lastly, in addition to five cIa\Ys on each foot, the males have a jieculiar 

 spur on tlie hind ones, perforated by a canal ivhich transmits a liquid secreted by a gland 

 situated on the inner surface of the thigh : it is asserted that the \vuunds it inilicts are 

 venomous.f These animals have no external conch to the ear, and their eyes are very small. 



The Monotremes are found only in New Holland, where they have been discovered since 

 the settlement of the English. There arc two genera known. 



The Echtdnas (Echidna, Cuv. ; Tachi/t/lossv-s, llhg. : sometimes called Spiny Ant-eaters). 

 The elongated slender muzzle of these animals, terminated by a small mouth, and containing an exten- 

 sile tongue, resembles that of the Ant-eaters and Pangolins, and like them, they feed on Ants. They 

 have no teeth, but their palate is provided with several ranges of small spines, directed backwards. 

 Their short feet have each five long and very stout claws, fitted for burrowing ; and all the upper part 

 of then- body is covered with spines, as in a Hedgehog, [but much larger and more powerful]. It 

 appears that in the moment of danger, they have also the faculty of rolling tliemselves into a ball. 

 The tail is vorv short ; stomach ample and ncarlv globular, and the ea-cuui of middle size. 



Two species liave been discovered, — the Spiny Echidna 

 (E. Iiysir-ii), completely covered with large spines,— and 

 the Bristly Echidna {E. selosa), covered with hair, 

 among which the spines are half-hidden. Some con- 

 sider the ditference as only arising from aj^e. 



The Duckbills {Onutkori/nchus, Blumenbach ; 

 Platypus, Sliaw). 

 Muzzle elongated, and at the same time singularly 

 enlarged and flattened, presenting the greatest ex- 

 ternal resemblance to the bill of a Duck, and the 

 more so as its edges are similarly furnished with 

 nr. 52 — Eihmna Small trausvcrse laminae. They have no teeth ex-^ 



ce\>t at the bottom of the mouth, whore there are two on each side of both jaws, without roots, with 

 flat crowns, auil composed, as in the Orycterope, of small vertical tubes. Tlieir fore-feet have a 

 membrane which not only connects the toes, but extends beyond the claws: in the hinder, the mem- 

 brane reaches only to the base of the claws ; two characters wiiich, in addition to their flattened tail, 

 indicate aquatic Iiabits. Their tongue is to 



a certain extent double ; one in the bill beset 

 with villosities ; and another at the base of 

 the first, thicker, and furnished anteriorly 

 with two httle fleshy points. The stomach 

 is small, oblong, and has its outlet near 

 the enn-ance ; ececum small ; and there are 

 numerous sahcut and parallel lamina' in the 

 course of the intestines. The ])enis has only 

 two tubercles. These animals inhabit the 

 rivers and marshes of New Holland, and 

 particularly the neighbourhood of Port 



Jackson. ^'e- 53.-Th. Omithorynchns. 



Two species only are known, one with smooth and thin reddish fur (0. paradoxus, Blum.); th^ other with 

 blackish-brown fur, flat, and somewhat frizzled. These are perhaps only varieties of age. 



Mojiotreiiiata are noi oviparous, but must rcsemhie in thei 

 ductinn the Mirsupi'ita. Tlie _v 



Shrt'ws. [Prof. Owen h.ia since demonstrated llicm ti> be mammary, 

 althdugli Ilicse nnimals [like the true Ce/'/fp«) huve no teats or nip- 

 pies, the InctCHl secretion tran:)udinf; by a tiuniber of minute pores.] 



• Travellers hftve lately asserted, that they have been a.scertained 

 to produte ci;i;a. Should this pnive to be ihe lrsc, the Monotremes 

 Ml II -it, in soMn; sort, be considered as aparticulur class of animals ; but 

 it is iJ'.nch to be wished, thiit some competent anatomist would minutely 

 describe these cggw, their intpnial origin, njid their developcmenC 

 e.fter exclusion, fl'rof. Owen hus since conclusively shown tiiat the 



untrh. 



■ rejiro- 



attached to tht inamraa of their dam, hut from the structure of the 

 beak ill very younf Or-nAthorhi/nci, which have been found in the 

 burrows, there can be little dnubt that the mouth forms, at first, k 

 suctorial disk, adapted to hold on an even flat surface,] 



t There is re-ison to suspect that this statement is without founda- 

 tion, as the animals never attempt to employ the spur aa a weaf i.>i; of 

 defence. — Ed. 



