THE REPTILIAN MAMMALS. 233 



in holes extending from under the water up above its level 

 into the banks, and with an outlet on shore. It lives on 

 mollusks, worms, and water-insects. 



The spiny ant-eater (Fig. 234) inhabits Australia and 

 New Guinea. In this animal the tongue is long and slen- 

 der, like that of the ant-eater, while the body is armed with 

 quills like those of a porcupine, as well as hairs. The 

 claws are very large and strong, adapted for tearing open 

 ant-hills in order to devour the ants. 



Not only do these singular quadrupeds in their structure 

 resemble the reptiles, but, unlike other mammals, whose 

 eggs are of microscopic size, and which are born into the 

 world in a shape much like their parents, they lay eggs as 

 large as those of some reptiles, and the young are born in 

 a very rudimentary condition. Hence, we see that the low- 

 liest mammals are connecting links between the reptiles 

 and birds, on the one hand, and their more highly organ- 

 ized brethren, of which we shall next speak. 



