THE THREE-CLAWED ECHIDNAS. 247 
cases, be brown. Length of head and body from about 19 
to 20 inches, 
DistributionNorth-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. 
Procchidna nigro-aculeata, 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. bruijnt, 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. druzjni the spines 
are few, short, thin, and white, in P. nigro-aculeata 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. druzjnt. 
