THE PORCUPINE ANT-EATER. 41 



it about in the water ; and it is curious to see them 

 attempt to get at a worm inclosed in the hand, which 

 they take very greedily when it is offered to them. I 

 have noticed they seem to be able to smell whether I 

 have a worm in my closed hand or not, as they swim 

 up to it, for they desist from their efforts if an empty 

 fist is offered them." Their natural food consists 

 mainly of fresh-water shrimps, water fleas, and beetles. 

 The appearance of a duckbill does not lead to the 

 belief that he is a burrower, but his fore quarters are 

 very strong, and well braced with powerful bones. 

 The burrows he digs have two entrances — one well 

 hidden amid plants above the surface, and the other 

 opening below the surface of the water. The nests 

 are always placed above high-water mark, so the wise 

 little animal is never drowned in his burrow by a 

 sadden rise of water. 



THE PORCUPINE ANT-EATER. 



ANOTHER ESG LAYER. 



In the bottom of a prickly pear cut four little 

 flaps, turn them outward, let the fruit rest upon 

 them, and you have a tolerably accurate representa- 

 tion of a porcupine ant-eater or echidna. The stem 

 of the pear is the snout or beak, the flaps the feet. 

 It has no legs worth mentioning, and the prickly body 

 of the fruit may give you a pretty fair idea of the 

 remainder of the animal. Possibly two very small 

 5 



