" Echidna Hystrix."

Southland Times, Issue 19264, 30 January 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

" Echidna Hystrix."

The authorities at the British Zoolngic-i* Gardens acknowledge a new arrival from the*' waters, with the following description for wondering Londoners : — " Echidna hystrix " is the scientific name of the latest newcomer at the Zoo— a quaint little creature from New Zealand, which forms one of the exceptions to the rule, insomuch as it lays eggs after the manner of birds and reptiles. The egg or eggs are carried about in a pouch, where they are in due course hatched by the heat of the parent's body. The muzxle is extended into a long and slender beak, which is completely devoid of teeth at all nges, and is suited to the long, extensile, worm-like tongue, characteristic of all ant-eating mammals. Tho fur is so thickly intermingled with short and stout »p__-s, not unlike those of the hedge-hogs, that sometimes little more than the latter are "Lsi-ie. The tail is quite rudimentary ; the thert, sub-equal limbs have un webbed toes, furnished with soft, fleshy cushions, although there are no pads, and they are armed with long, strong claws. A. peculiar feature of the mouth is tho presence of spines on both the palate and tongue. The animal subsists exclusively on ants, which it digs* out and sucks up with the tonguo ; the body is stout and depressed, and when in repose rests flat on the ground, although in walking the legs raise it somewhat above tho surface. The echidna is generally found in sandy and rocky districts. When on level ground it moves at a good pace, but with an unsteady, shuffling kind of movement. These animals do not, as a rule, venture abroad till evening ; but during the night they are very active, burrowing in searoh of their favorite ants. , When attacked, they invariably seek te make their «io»j« by tanffffrf .