Attention was recently invited to the existence in the
collections of the Army Medical Museum, of the Surgeon
General's Office, at Washington, of the mounted skeletons of
certain of the Monotremata; and as these curious mammals
are now becoming extremely rare, a brief account of the
specimens of them will probably prove of value to the comparative
anatomists of the future, and of more or less
interest to those of the present time.
These skeletons consist of one of an Echidna, and two
of the Duckbill Platypus or Ornithorhynchus. On the Echidna
skeleton the label reads:—''2496 Comp. Anat. Ser.—Spiny
ant-eater; echidna aculeata or hystrix. From New South
Wales. The jaws are without teeth; roof of mouth and
tongue covered with horny spines." This is apparently
an adult specimen, prepared and mounted by the Wards of
Rochester, and in perfect condition. One of their labels
is pasted on the under side of the stand and bears the
number 3760 and the statement that the animal was obtained
in New South Wales. Includes illustrative plates
