30 THE EGG-LAYING MAMMALS 



approved method is to walk along the bank, probing the 

 soft earth with an iron bar ; and so skillful are some of the 

 natives that they can tell at once when this rod passes into 

 the nest of a duck mole. 



The duck mole deposits two small, oblong eggs. Each 

 of these is inclosed in a white skin, strong and flexible, 

 and is three fourths of an inch in length and half an inch 

 in width. Although the duck mole is very timid, it makes 

 an interesting pet and is readily trained. An Australian 

 naturalist kept several in confinement. The little crea- 

 tures proved most amusing companions, climbing upon 

 the chairs and even upon his shoulders and displaying a 

 very curious disposition. 



Almost as interesting as the duck mole is the echidna, 

 a little monotreme called also the spiny ant-eater. It has a 

 ducklike bill, but is covered with hard, sharp spines like 

 a hedgehog. The tongue is long like that of an ant-eater. 

 The claws are powerful and formed for digging into ant- 

 hills, where their food is found. The skull is very simple. 

 They have no teeth, the margins of the jaws or bills being 

 sheathed with horn. The echidna is a land animal, the 

 claws not being webbed. The Australian species measures 

 about eighteen inches in length and is entirely nocturnal, 

 prowling abroad at night, and concealing itself by day in 

 its long tunnel in which the young are reared. A species 

 is found in Tasmania and two in New Guinea. The most 

 remarkable feature of the animal is that it lays an egg^ 

 which is placed in a ventral pouch. The nest is found 

 at the end of a long tunnel. 



