302 ZAGLOSSUS. 
obtained two living Proechidnas from the natives at Sorong, a small low lying 
island which is separated by a shallow and narrow strait from the Papuan main- 
land. These were both captured by a party of Papuans who had been on an 
excursion to the hills which lie a few miles back from the swampy coastal plain 
bordering the mainland shore. 
One of Dr. Barbour’s specimens (both of which he has presented to the 
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy) was in good condition and he has kindly 
written the following account of it: —‘‘This specimen was kept alive for about 
a month and a few observations on its habits were made. It was absolutely 
nocturnal and spent the day partially buried in the deep layer of sand which 
was kept in its cage. It slept rolled up with its snout turned directly under its 
chest and covered by the fore limbs. When aroused and taken out in daytime, 
it would lie flat on its stomach with its snout stretched out resting on the ground. 
If disturbed, it at once turned its snout under it and raised a heavy fold of skin 
that moved down over the forehead and protected it by carrying forward a 
heavy armament of spines. The subdermal musculature is remarkably strong 
and effective, causing the spines to be quickly turned and rigidly held in any 
direction. At night it moved about sluggishly, often digging with motions that 
strongly recalled those of a turtle. It fed on ants only, which were procured 
by placing in a dish a considerable amount of shredded cocoanut. The ants 
soon swarmed in this and the whole was then placed in the Proechidna’s cage. 
It ate the insects by thrusting its long tongue down into the cocoanut. It took 
a little water or water with condensed milk, but seemed to drink very little.” 
Most of the specimens of Proechidna come from Dutch New Guinea— Mt. 
Arfak (type locality), Karon Mountains, Doreh Bay, Sorong, the hilly country 
between Fak Fak and McCluer Gulf; specimens are also recorded from the 
Finisterre Mountains of German New Guinea and from Mt. Victoria, British 
New Guinea. <A specimen (goodfellowi Thomas) from the island of Salawatti, 
really a part of western Dutch New Guinea, is doubtless identical with the 
Proechidna of the mainland. 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 
The foregoing account is based on a larger series of skins accompanied by 
skulls than has ever before been brought together, while in addition four skele- 
tons have been examined and dissection made of an alcoholic specimen. 
From a comparison of these as well as from a careful study of the 
