1 24 MONO TREMA TA 



which are caught under water, the sand and small stones at the 

 bottom being turned over with the bill. The creatures appear 

 at first to deposit what they have thus collected in their cheek 

 pouches, and when these are filled they rise to the surface and 

 quietly triturate their meal with the horny plates before swal- 

 lowing it. Swimming is effected chiefly by the action of the 

 broad forepaws, the hind feet and tail taking little share in 

 locomotion in the water. When asleep they roll themselves into 

 a ball, as shown in the figure. In their native haunts they are 

 extremely timid and wary, and very difficult to approach, being 

 rarely seen out of their burrows in the daytime. Mr. A. B. 

 Crowther, who has supplemented the often quoted observations 

 of Dr. Bennett upon the habits of these animals in confinement, 

 says, " They soon become very tame in captivity ; in a few days 

 the young ones appeared to recognise a call, swimming rapidly 

 to the hand paddling the water; and it is curious to see their 

 attempts to procure a worm enclosed in the hand, which they 

 greedily take when offered to them. I have noticed that they 

 appear to be able to smell whether or not a worm is contained in 

 the closed hand to which they swim ; for they desisted from their 

 efforts if an empty fist was offered." When irritated they utter a 

 soft low growl, resembling that of a puppy. 



Family ECHIDNID.E. 



Cerebral hemispheres larger and well convoluted. Facial portion 

 of skull produced into a long, tapering, tubular rostrum, at the 

 end of which the anterior nares are situated. Kami of mandible 

 slender, styliform. Opening of mouth small, and placed below the 

 extremity of, the rostrum. No teeth or laterally placed horny plates, 

 though the palate and tongue are furnished with spines. Tongue 

 very long, vermiform, slender, and protractile. Lining membrane 

 of small intestine villous, but without transverse folds. Feet not 

 webbed, but with long strong claws fitted for scratching and 

 burrowing. The hinder feet with the ends of the toes turned 

 outwards and backwards in the ordinary position of the animal 

 when on the ground. Tail very short. Acetabulum with a large 

 perforation, as in Birds. Calcaneal spur and gland of the male 

 much smaller than in Ornithorhynchus. Fur intermixed with strong, 

 sharp-pointed spines. Terrestrial and fossorial in habits, feeding 

 exclusively on ants, and recalling in the structure of the mouth and 

 various other parts relating to their peculiar mode of life the true 

 Anteaters of the order Edentata. 



The Echidnas or Spiny Anteaters constitute a family which 

 appears in some respects to be less specialised than the Ornitho- 

 rhynchidce. According to Mr. 0. Thomas, all the living forms may 



