﻿THE THREE-CLAWED ECHIDNAS. 247 



cases, be brown. Length of head and body from about 19 

 to 20 inches. 



Distribution. — North- western New Guinea (Arfak Moun- 

 tains). 



Although, as in the case with Papuan Mammals in general, 

 little or nothing is known of the habits of this species, these are 

 in all probability very similar to those of the common Echidna ; 

 it being reported by the natives that the present species, like 

 the latter, dwells .'n crevices and holes among rocks. 



II. BLACK-SPINED ECHIDNA. PROECHIDNA NIGRO-ACULEATA. 



Pfdechidiia nigro-acukata, Rothschild, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1892, 

 p. 545- 



Characters. — The specimen on which this reputed species 

 was founded is described as differing from the last by its 

 much larger size, extremely robust limbs, and much shorter 

 claws. Moreover, instead of the dense woolly brown hair 

 of P. bruij}ii^ among which are embedded the few and 

 scattered spines, in the present form the hair is long, bristly, 

 and very sparingly sprinkled over the body, the legs being 

 almost naked. Then, again, while in P. bruijni the spines 

 are few, short, thin, and white, in P. ?n'gro-aculeafa they 

 are nearly as numerous as in the Common Echidna, and are 

 likewise of great length and thickness, as well as being of a 

 jet black colour. The claws of this form are further dis- 

 tinguished by their relative shortness and breadth, as well as 

 by the excavation of their inferior surfaces ; while the tail is 

 longer and stouter than in the typical representative of the 

 genus. The total length of the type specimen of this species 

 is upwards of 31 inches, against 24 inches in the largest indi- 

 vidual of P. bruijni. 



