ECHIDNA HYSTRIX. 307 



roll itself up in a ball like that animal. Notwith- 

 standing the inactivity of the Echidna, it appeared to 

 like its liberty, for it made constant efforts to get out 

 of the cage in which it was placed. It burrowed 

 with a rapidity truly astonishing. A large chest of 

 earth containing plants being given to it, the animal 

 arrived at the bottom in less than two minutes. The 

 muzzle, although extremely sensitive, assisted in the 

 work. 



After a month of abstinence it took to eating ; the 

 food given to it, was a mixture of flour, water, and 

 sugar, of which it consumed nearly half a glass per 

 day. 



Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard are of opinion that 

 these animals might be easily conveyed to Europe in 

 a vessel taking a direct route ; especially as they 

 become torpid when exposed to the cold. This 

 specimen died, they say, in consequence of its 

 washing itself too much. 



Desmarest and some other authors describe two 

 species of Echidna under the names Echidna hystrix 

 and E. setosa. The animal here described is the E. 

 hystrix of these authors, the E. setosa differs in having 

 fewer and shorter spines on the body, and these 

 embedded almost to the point in a dense, woolly, 

 brown fur; on the sides and under parts of the body, 

 some long, pale, bristly hairs are intermixed with the 

 fur, which is much less harsh than that of E. hystrix, 

 and of a much paler brown. Desmarest says, the 

 nails of the feet are longer, narrower, and more arched 

 in E. setosa, than in the other species, but these 



