126 



MONOTREMATA 



in the mountains. In a wild state they live mainly on ants. Speci- 

 mens have been brought to this country and kept in the Zoological 

 Society's Gardens ; and in captivity they will readily eat eggs, and 

 bread-and-milk. They are able, however, to endure long fasts, an 

 individual having been known to go without food for upwards of a 

 month. 



These animals seem to be mainly of nocturnal habits, and if 

 brought out during the day-time appear to be sluggish and stupid, 

 crouching to the ground with the head between the legs, and thus 

 presenting a mass of spines to an enemy. They burrow rapidly in 

 soft ground, sinking directly downwards, and not going head for- 

 wards. A specimen placed on a large chest of earth containing 

 plants reached the bottom in less than two minutes ; and it is said 

 that the muzzle assists in the work of burrowing. 



Proechidna. 1 — The one known representative of the genus 

 Proechidna (Fig. 33) attains dimensions about equal to those of 



Fio. 33. — The Three-toed Echidna (Procchihia Iruijnii). From Gervais. 



the largest race of Echidna aculeata. The skull is less depressed 

 than in the latter, with the anterior portion of the palate very 

 concave, and the deflected beak nearly twice the length of the 

 remainder of the skull. As a rule, there are only three claws to 

 each foot ; but the first and fifth digits are represented by several 

 phalanges, and one instance is known where there are five complete 

 claws on the anterior and four on the posterior feet. There are 

 two more vertebra? in the dorsal and lumbar region than in 

 Echidna. 



The head and body are covered with a thick coat of hair, 

 among which there are a number of short spines in the region of 

 the back, which are much less numerous than in the typical race of 

 the last species. The colour of the fur is generally dark brown or 

 black, but the head may be almost white ; and the spines are 

 usually entirely white, although in certain cases they may be brown 

 at the root. 



1 Gervais, Osteogmphie des Monotremes, p. 43 (1877). 



