302 ZAGLOSSUS. 



obtained two living Proechidnas from the natives at Sorong, a small low lying 

 island which is separated by a shallow and narrow strait from the Papuan main- 

 land. These were l:)oth captured by a party of Papuans who had been on an 

 excursion to the hills which lie a few miles back from the swampy coastal plain 

 bordering the mainland shore. 



One of Dr. Barbour's specimens (both of which he has presented to the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology) was in good condition and he has kindly 

 written the following account of it: — "This specimen was kept alive for about 

 a month and a few observations on its habits were made. It was absolutely 

 nocturnal and spent the day partially buried in the deep layer of sand which 

 was kept in its cage. It slept rolled up with its snout turned directly under its 

 chest and covered by the foi-e limbs. When aroused and taken out in daytime, 

 it would lie flat on its stomach with its snout stretched out resting on the ground. 

 If disturbed, it at once turned its snout under it and raised a heavy fold of skin 

 that moved down over the forehead and protected it by carrying forward a 

 heavy armament of spines. The subdermal musculature is remarkably strong 

 and effective, causing the spines to be quickly turned and rigidly held in any 

 direction. At night it moved about sluggishly, often digging with motions that 

 strongly recalled those of a turtle. It fed on ants only, which were procured 

 by placing in a dish a considerable amount of shredded cocoanut. The ants 

 soon swarmed in this and the whole was then placed in the Proechidna's cage. 

 It ate the insects by thrusting its long tongue down into the cocoanut. It took 

 a little water or water with condensed milk, but seemed to drink very little." 



Most of the specimens of Proechidna come from Dutch New Guinea — Mt. 

 Arfak (type locaUty), Karon Mountains, Doreh Bay, Sorong, the hilly country 

 between Fak Fak and McCluer Gulf; specimens are also recorded from the 

 Finisterre Mountains of German New Guinea and from Mt. Victoria, British 

 New Guinea. A specimen (goodfeUorvi Thomas) from the island of Salawatti, 

 really a part of western Dutch New Guinea, is doubtless identical with the 

 Proechidna of the mainland. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 



The foregoing account is based on a larger series of skins accompanied by 

 skulls than has ever before been brought together, while in addition four skele- 

 tons have been examined and dissection made of an alcoholic specimen. 



From a comparison of these as well as from a careful study of the 



