Genus Echidna. (Cuv.)
In some respects the muzzle of this animal resembles that of the Ant-eaters, being much elongated, slender, terminated by a small mouth, and inclosing a long extensile tongue. It is, however, much more beak-like: immediately in front of the eyes, the muzzle, which is rather depressed, is suddenly contracted, and thence tapers gradually to the tip. The skin of this beak is thick and destitute of hair. It has no teeth, but the palate is armed with many rows of small spines directed backwards. The limbs are very large and robust, and formed for burrowing, or for opening ant-nests, being furnished with very long and strong nails. "The inner toe of the hind-foot," says Mr. Waterhouse, "is very short and thick, and furnished with a short, broad, and rounded nail, and appears to be slightly opposible ; the toe next the inner one is the largest, though still short and strong, and is furnished with an enormously long nail, one inch and four lines in length; this nail is slightly curved, and appears, when viewed in front, to be nearly cylindrical, but its under surface is concave. The nail of the central toe resembles the last, but is rather smaller, and that of the outer toe is the shortest, being not more than a quarter of an inch in length. The Echidna being a burrowing animal, it would appear that the broad, strong claws of the fore-feet are for digging out the earth, and the large hollow claws of the hind-feet are to enable the animal to cast away the loose soil; and to accomplish this, the foot is twisted in such a manner that the sides of these
