﻿THE FIVE-CLAWED ECHIDNAS. 243 



Of these, the typical or central race, is confined to the main- 

 land of Australia, and is of medium size, attaining a length 

 of about 17 inches, exclusive of the tail. Next to this comes 

 the Port Moresby or Papuan five-clawed Echidna, which is 

 confined to south-eastern New Guinea, and is characterised by 

 its smaller dimensions (length of head and body about 14 

 inches), and the shorter spines of the back. Curiously enough, 

 the most different from all is the hairy variety, from Tasmania, 

 which attains a length of about 20 inches, and is further char- 

 acterised by the greater length of the fur, which nearly conceals 

 the spines, and likewise by the elongation of the claw of the 

 third toe of the hind foot, which is nearly equal in length to 

 that of the second. 



Habits. — As in the case of the Duck-bill, it has only been 

 comparatively recently proved that the Echidna lays egsjs, 

 which are carried about and hatched by the female in the 

 manner alluded to above ; we are still, however, in need of 

 much fuller information concerning the breeding-habits of 

 these creatures. In order to enable them to procure with 

 facility their food of ants and their larvae. Echidnas are pro- 

 vided with very large glands discharging into the mouth, the 

 viscid secretion from which causes the ants to adhere to the- 

 long worm-like tongue when thrust into a mass of these insects, 

 after being exposed by the digging powers of the claws of the 

 Echidna's limbs. As a rule, in Australia these animals are found 

 in sandy and rocky districts, and are especially common in the 

 mountains, where they dwell in holes among the rocks. On 

 level ground they move with an unsteady, shuffling gait, with 

 the short and broad fore paws turned inwards, and the claws of 

 the hind feet bent outwards and backwards, so that the inner 

 border of the sole rests on the ground. 



Crespuscular and nocturnal in habits, the Echidna, according 

 to Bennett's account, passes most of the day asleep, and displays 



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