PORCUPINE ANT-EATER OF AUSTRALIA. 489 



eaters. It is about a foot in length, and burrows with wonder- 

 ful facility by means of its short muscular fore-feet and its 

 sharp-pointed claws. When attacked, it rolls itself into a ball 

 like the hedgehog, erecting the short, strong, and very sharp 

 spines with which the upper parts of the body and tail are 

 thickly coated, and thus presenting a formidable defensive 

 armour to its assailant. 



