OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF ECHIDNA. on 
Observations on the Habits of Echidna oie 
aculeata, Shaw). 
By Rozert Broom, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., Taralga, New Scie lyaiees 
In the neighbourhood of Taralga, N.S.W., the Echidna is 
frequently found, and during my residence here I have had 
numerous specimens brought tome. Although the anjmal has a 
wide range in the Australian continent, it is probably nowhere 
very common, its scarcity being due probably more to the numbers 
killed by the blacks for food than to natural enemies. Now, 
however, that the aboriginal race is dying out, it is likely that 
the Echidna will become more numerous, and in the wild regions 
of the Blue Mountains it will probably long have a retreat which 
will be away from the track of advancing civilisation. Most of 
the specimens seen are those that have wandered from the wild 
regions of mountain and gully into the cleared sheep-pastures or 
cattle-paddocks. 
When an Echidna is seen walking about its movements recall 
those of the tortoise. The gait is clumsy, and the limbs are 
moved with apparent mechanical deliberation. The animal has 
evidently little feeling of danger, as if conscious of its own 
superiority to all attacks. When undisturbed it walks with its 
head well forward and the spines quite flat along the back, 
occasionally lifting its snout high in the air, sniffing, as if to try 
and catch the scent of ants carried by the breeze. 
When taken into captivity its bids for liberty are most 
persistent and rather annoying. A cage is perfectly useless, as 
the animal at once tries to force a passage through the wires. 
Unless the wires be firmly twisted together, as in wire netting, it 
is almost certain that ere long the Echidna, with its enormously 
powerful fore-limbs, will have torn the wires apart and made 
gooditsescape. Should the wires prove the stronger, the Echidna, 
apparently indifferent to pain, will continue hour after hour trying 
to force a passage, tearing the skin from the sides of its head and 
snout. One specimen I left in a box, with wooden spars nailed 
