62 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



last the devoted mother feels that she can no longer 

 accommodate her offspring within her pouch with 

 any degree of comfort. She then gives the infant 

 notice to quit, first of aU preparing a burrow imder 

 the ground wherein it may repose in safety. 



Her temporary pouch, having served its purpose, 

 gradually disappears, and does not re-develop until 

 the following year. 



The young ones are stated to be born in May, 

 a somewhat curious season considering that that 

 month heralds the approach of the Australian 

 winter. 



But as the creatures undergo a period of aestiva- 

 tion during the hottest and driest months of the year, 

 this fact may account for the lateness of the breeding 

 season. 



Echidnas thrive well in captivity, and quite 

 a number have been exhibited from time to time at 

 the London Zoological Gardens. Like many other 

 animals, however, they are beginning to get some- 

 what rare. 



Quite distinct from any of the foregoing is a 

 most remarkable animal known as the proechidna 

 {Proechidna brujnii), so named from the explorer 

 Brujn, who was the first to discover it. 



Unlike the ordinary echidnas which have five 

 toes upon each foot, the proechidna usually possesses 

 but three. Occasionally, however, specimens are 

 found with additional toes in varying stages of 

 development — one animal having been discovered 

 that had five toes on its fore-feet and four on its 

 hind feet. 



