178 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



tail ; it may be compared to a small Rabbit. The sexes are alike in 

 general appearance, but the male is provided with a spur on the 

 heel, horny like a Cock's, but perforated by the duct of a gland on 

 the leg. 



The Echidna inhabits Australia and New Guinea; it shows a con- 

 siderable amount of local variation, three races being distinguished, of 

 which the most distinct is the Tasmanian Echidna, in which a thick 

 coat of fur grows between the spines and almost conceals them from 

 view. A similar difference, it will be remembered, exists between the 

 species of American Porcupines. The food of the Echidna consists of 

 Ants, which, like an Ant-eater or Pangolin, it licks up with its long 

 worm-like tongue. Along with these it swallows a great deal of sand, 

 and sometimes nothing but this is found in its interior, for it has the 

 power of living a long time without food, being able to exist thus for 

 weeks together. This is, of course, a reptilian peculiarity, and another 

 is the creature's low temperature, which is only about 78. 



The Echidna is a nocturnal animal, frequenting sandy and rocky 

 districts, where it hides in holes in the daytime ; when on the move, 

 it shuffles about actively enough, though with a very awkward gait, 

 with the fore-toes turned inwards and the hind ones outwards. It has 

 no means of active defence, but is a "passive resister" of the first 

 order ; it not only can roll itself up like a Hedgehog, but is so strong 

 and struggles so vigorously that the only way to handle it without 

 getting hurt is to catch hold of it by one hind-leg while it is unrolled. 

 When disturbed, it also tucks in its head, and clings to the ground 

 so tenaciously that the only way of moving it is to fairly scrape it off 

 the surface with a spade. This is on a hard surface like boards ; on 

 the ground it will soon get out of reach, for it is, as might be ex- 

 pected from its structure, a remarkably powerful and rapid burrower. 

 When asleep, it generally rolls itself up; in performing its toilet, it 

 shows considerable power of change of position, as the work is done 

 entirely with the hind claws. Unlike its relative the Platypus, it seems 

 to have no voice. 



The Australian natives call this creature in some places Nickobejan, 



