302 HABITS. 



existing: — first, E. hystrix, Desm., or Spiny 

 Echidna, which is found on the mountain ranges 

 in the colony of New South Wales ; and the 

 second, -£J. Setosa, Desm., or Bristly Echidna, 

 which is found more common in Van Dieman's 

 Land. The first species attains a large size : it 

 is stated in our works of natural history as 

 being the size of a hedge-hog : my young spe- 

 cimen was fully that. At " Newington," the 

 residence of John Blaxland, Esq., I had an 

 opportunity of seeing a specimen full fourteen 

 inches long, and of proportionate circumference : 

 it fed upon milk and eggs, the eggs boiled 

 hard and chopped up small, with rice ; its mo- 

 tion was heavy and slow ; it was of a perfectly 

 harmless disposition. When disturbed from its 

 place of retreat, it would feed during the day ; 

 but was difficult to remove from the cask in 

 which it was placed, on account of its firmly 

 fixing itself at the bottom : it feeds, by thrusting 

 out the tongue, to which organ the food is at- 

 tached, and then withdrawing it. Mine moved 

 about, and drank milk at night, taking little 

 other food. After keeping it for nearly seven 

 months, I found it one morning dead. 



There is an affection of the eye, which much 

 prevails at this season of the year in the interior 

 of the colony, attacking both European settlers 



