. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 298 BACKBONED ANIMALS. Spiny Ant-eater {Echidnidce)—These animals (Fig. 322, A) are covered with spines like the hedgehog ; the bill is long, horny, and toothless, resembling that of a bird. The tongue is long, like that of the ant-eater, and the pal- ate armed with rows of sharp, tooth-like spines. Their claws are powerful and adapted for digging into the ant- hills where their food is obtained. They are valuable in destroying noxious ants. Three species are Fig. 322.—Group of egg-laying mammals. A, Echidna ; B, Ornithorhyn- chus swimming and rolled up
. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 298 BACKBONED ANIMALS. Spiny Ant-eater {Echidnidce)—These animals (Fig. 322, A) are covered with spines like the hedgehog ; the bill is long, horny, and toothless, resembling that of a bird. The tongue is long, like that of the ant-eater, and the pal- ate armed with rows of sharp, tooth-like spines. Their claws are powerful and adapted for digging into the ant- hills where their food is obtained. They are valuable in destroying noxious ants. Three species are Fig. 322.—Group of egg-laying mammals. A, Echidna ; B, Ornithorhyn- chus swimming and rolled up ; C, nest of duck-bill in section. Duck-bill (Ornithorhynchidd).—The water mole (Fig. 322, B), as it is sometimes called, has a broad, duck-like, horny bill (Fig. 323, A), containing eight broad, flat, horny teeth. They have no external ear. The body is covered with short, brown hair with an under-pelt ; the fore-feet are webbed (Fig. 323, C) beyond the claws, the hinder only to their base, the males possessing a bird-like spur. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Holder, Charles Frederick, 1851-1915; Holder, Joseph Bassett, 1824-1888, joint author. New York : D. Appleton and company
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
