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Webster 1913 Edition
Echidna
‖
E-chid′na
(ē̍-kĭd′nȧ)
, Noun.
 [L., a viper, adder, Gr. 
ἔχιδνα
.] 1. 
(Gr. Myth.) 
A monster, half maid and half serpent. 
2. 
(Zoöl.) 
A genus of 
Monotremata 
found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are toothless and covered with spines; – called also porcupine ant-eater
, and Australian ant-eater
. 