THE PORCUPINE ANT-EATER. 
3 1 
at this task that to confine the animal is by no means an easy 
matter, even a paved yard affording but a poor safeguard against 
its escape. In the open country it digs with such extreme 
rapidity that it can hardly, be captured, gathering its back 
into an arched form, collecting the legs under the body, 
scratching away with the feet, and sinking like a stone in a 
cup of treacle. 
If attacked when on ground into which it cannot burrow 
rapidly, the Porcupine Ant-eater immediately turns itself into 
a ball, hedgehog-wise, and sets its foes at defiance. The large 
perforated spur with which the hind feet of the male are armed, 
and through which is poured a liquid secreted by a gland of 
considerable size, is a very formidable-looking weapon, but to 
all appearances is really harmless. Dr. Bennett often handled 
the animal, but never saw it attempt to use the spur, and found 
that the duckbill, which is armed in a similar manner, was 
equally innocuous. 
At the present date, January, 1864, the living animal may be 
seen in the collection at the Zoological Gardens. 
