196 



ANIMAL BIOLOGY 



FlG. 359. DUCKBILL ( Ornith orhynchus paradoxus) . 



The lowest order of mammals contains only two species, 

 the duckbill and the porcupine ant-eater, both living in 



the Australian re- 

 gion. Do you judge 

 that the duckbill 

 of Tasmania -(Fig. 

 359) lives chiefly in 

 water or on land ? 

 Why? Is it prob- 

 ably active or slow in movement ? It dabbles in mud and 

 slime for worms and mussels, etc. How is it fitted for 

 doing this ? Which 

 feet are markedly 

 webbed ? How far 

 does the web extend ? 

 The web can be 

 folded back when not 

 in use. It lays two 

 eggs in a nest of 

 grass at the end of a 

 burrow. Trace re- 

 semblances and dif- 

 ferences between this 

 animal and birds. 



The porcupine ant- 

 eater has numerous 

 quill-like spines (Fig. 

 360) interspersed with 

 its hairs. (Use ?) De- 

 scribe its claws. It 

 has a long prehensile 

 tongue. It rolls into a ball when attacked. Compare its 

 jaws with a bird's bill. It lays one egg, which is carried 



FIG. 360. SPINY ANT-EATER (Echidna acu- 

 leata). View of under surface to show pouch. 

 (After Haacke.) 



