Genus, Echidna. 
Echidna ! . Cuvier, Tableau Elementaire. 1797. 
Tachyglossvs 1 . Illiger, Prod. Syst. Mammalium et Avium, p. 14. 1811. 
Rostrum naked, elongate, slender, and attenuated ; mouth opening, 
small; tongue protractile, slender, cylindrical, and very long; 
palate, with horny papillae. Body above, furnished with spines 
and hair intermixed: legs short and powerful; fore and hind 
feet, each with iivj well-developed toes, having large nails; 
the fore feet fitted for burrowing; the hind feet, in the male 
sex, furnished with a horny spur: tail very short: ccecum 
short. Habitat, Australia. 
Two species only of the present genus are enumerated in 
systematic works, and one of these will perhaps prove to be 
a local variety: they are insect-feeding animals, and burrow 
in the ground. At a cursor)" glance they would somewhat 
resemble the Hedgehog, were it not for their long and 
slender snout. 
1 a viper. It is supposed the Echidna has the power of inflicting 
a poisoned wound with its spur ; and this idea, it is probable, suggested the 
generic name given by Cuvier. It must be remarked, however, that there is 
no well -authenticated instance on record of such a wound having been inflicted 
by the animal. 
Toxuy, quick ; and yAuaaa, tongue. 
