NATIVE PORCUPINE. 299 



Others again with thirteen. It is now ascertained 

 beyond doubt that the eggs are hatched by in- 

 cubation. They are of large size, and of a 

 beautiful bluish green colour. 



Among other extraordinary animals furnished 

 to the naturalists in this interesting country, is 

 the Echidna, or "native porcupine," the Nicko- 

 bejan and Jannocumbine of the natives. It in- 

 habits mountain ranges, burrowing with extraor- 

 dinary facility ; and at this season (December) 

 produces its young. It forms a link between 

 Hystrix and Myrmecophaga, differing but little 

 in external characters from the genera Manis 

 and Myrmecophaga ; a new genus has been there- 

 fore formed for it — Echidna, in the order Eden- 

 tata, tribe Monotrema. It was named Myrme- 

 cophaga aculeata, by Shaw ; at the same time 

 that he considered the external character suf- 

 ficiently distinct to place it in a new genus. He 

 thus correctly describes the animal. 



" The whole upper parts of the body and tail 

 are thickly coated with strong and sharp spines. 

 The snout is long and tubular, having only a 

 small rictus, or opening, at the tip, from whence 

 is protruded a long, lumbriciform tongue, as in 

 other ant-eaters. The nostrils are small, and 

 seated at the extremity of the snout : the eyes 

 are small and black, with a pale blue iris. It 



