SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 



15 



found in most of eastern Australia, Tasmania (where the hair 

 in the coat of the local race is much more developed), and south- 

 ern New Guinea. 



The Curved-beaked Spiny Anteater (Zaglossus) is a much 

 larger and heavier animal than Tachyglossus. The bill is not 

 only downwardly curved but proportionally much longer, while 



Fig. 4 — Straight-beaked Spiny Anteater 



the first and fifth toes are reduced in size. A quite dense hair 

 covering partly hides the spines, much as in the Tasmanian 

 spiny anteater. The color varies from brownish black to much 

 paler, depending upon the amount of white in the spines. The 

 total length is about thirty inches. 



This spiny anteater is reported to live in burrows in rocky 

 places and to feed on ants. It is found in New Guinea and Sala- 

 wati, where it seems mainly confined to mountainous areas. 



Pouched Mammals or Marsupials. 

 Order Marsupialia 



The marsupials are the descendants of an ancient and primi- 

 tive group of mammals. They are customarily divided into two 



