192 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
Occasionally it was offered Beetles of a species that is found 
under the porcupine clumps, but though these disappeared 
from the box, it is not certain that they were actually eaten. 
Ants, also, were tried with a previous specimen, but it seemed 
as if it was the /Voforyctes which ran the chance of being eaten. 
Strong support is afforded to the suggestion that the ‘witchetty’ 
forms a part, at least, of its diet by the fact that, as previously 
observed, acacias are plentiful in the sand-hills, which seem to 
be the natural haunt of the animal, and the larva in question 
are found in these roots at a depth of a foot or more. The 
suggestion is also confirmed by the statements of the natives 
and by the observations of Mr. Bishop himself, who found 
traces of underground burrowings around the stems of the 
acacias. Still it is not clear how the ‘ witchetties,’ which are 
buried in the wood, are dislodged.” 
The writer then goes on to say that when inspected in its 
box, the Ur-quamata “ would usually be found lying curled up 
in the sand, but not covered by it, and when the hand was put 
down immediately in front the little animal would climb into it 
and claw it all over. It seemed quick of hearing, and always 
awakened immediately on lifting the lid of the box. A very 
slight whistling noise was sometimes made while the specimen, 
kept so long in captivity, was burrowing about in the box ; but 
it was not certain whether this was a respiratory or a true voice 
sound ; and a previous specimen was heard, when held, to make 
a faint chirping like that of a newly-hatched chick. None of 
the other specimens, however, emitted any sound that was 
audible. 
‘Whenever the sand was changed by a fresh, warm, and 
moist supply the animal immediately commenced to burrow, 4 
and on warm sunny days when it was let out in the open it j 
would, if the sand were hard, run a little way fairly quickly ; 
but wherever the surface was soft it would begin burrowing 
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