146 Zoological Society. 



seum. The smallest of them is about two inehes in length ; the 

 largest about four. Both are destitute of hair; and in both the 

 eye-lids are closed. In the smaller one there is a vestige of an 

 umbilical slit. 



The larger of the two is one of those which were kept in captivity, 

 with their dam, by Lieut, the Hon. Lauderdale Maule, as noticed 

 in a communication read at the Meeting of the Committee of Sci- 

 ence and Correspondence of this Society on September 11, 1832, 

 (Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag., vol. ii. p. 71.) With it was exhibited 

 the dried skin of the dam, to which the mammary glands, largely 

 developed, had been left adhering. 



A Note from Lieut. Breton, Corr. Memb. Z. S., was read, giving 

 an account of an Echidna, which lived with him for some time in New 

 Holland, and survived a part of the voyage to England. The animal 

 was captured by him on the Blue Mountains : it is now very uncom- 

 mon in the colony of New South Wales. He regards it as being of 

 its size the strongest quadruped in existence. It burrows readily, 

 but he knows not to what depth. 



Previously to embarkation this individual was fed on ant-eggs and 

 milk, and when on board its diet was egg chopped small with liver 

 and meat. It drank much water. Its mode of eating was very curi- 

 ous, the tongue being used at some times in the manner of that of 

 the Chameleon, and at others in that in which a mower uses his 

 scythe, the tongue being curved laterally, and the food, as it were, 

 swept into the mouth : there seemed to be an adhesive substance on 

 the tongue, by which the food was drawn in. The animal died sudden- 

 ly off Cape Horn, while the vessel was amidst the ice ; perhaps in con- 

 sequence of the cold, but not improbably on account of the eggs with 

 which it was fed being extremely bad. 



Lieut. Breton agrees with MM. Quoy and Gaimard in believing 

 that little difficulty would be experienced in bringing alive to Europe 

 the Echidna or Porcupine Ant-eater of New Holland. He suggests 

 the following plan. 



Previously to embarkation the animal should gradually be weaned 

 from its natural food of ants, which may be done with great facility 

 by giving it occasionally ants and ant-eggs, (the last is, in fact, more 

 properly speaking, its common food,) but more generally milk, with 

 eggs chopped very small, or egg alone. When on board ship it should 

 be kept in a deep box, with strong bars over the top, and a door. It 

 is requisite that the box or cage be deep, because the animal con- 

 stantly tries its utmost to escape ; and possessing very great strength, 

 is liable to injure itself in its exertions to force its way through the 

 bars. The effluvia arising from its excrement are so extremely fetid, 

 that it cannot be kept altogether in a cabin, unless the cage be fre- 

 quently cleaned. While this is being done, the Echidna may be al- 

 lowed its liberty, but must be narrowly watched, or it will certainly 

 go overboard. It is absolutely necessary that the eggs which are to 

 constitute its food during the voyage be as fresh as possible : they can 

 be preserved in lime water. If milk is not to be procured, water must 

 be supplied daily ; and egg and liver (or fresh meat) cut small, should 



