. The popular natural history . Zoology. 224 THE ECHIDNA. The food of the MullingOflg consists of worms, water insects, and little molluscs, which it gathers in its cheek-pouches as long as it is engaged in its search for food, and then eats quietly when it rests from its labours. 1'he teeth, if 4:eeth they may be called, of this animal are very peculiar, consisting of four horny channeled plates, two in each jaw, which serve to crush the fragile shells and coverings of the animals on which it fe?ds. It seems seldom to feed during the day, or in the depth of night, preferring for that purpose
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 224 THE ECHIDNA. The food of the MullingOflg consists of worms, water insects, and little molluscs, which it gathers in its cheek-pouches as long as it is engaged in its search for food, and then eats quietly when it rests from its labours. 1'he teeth, if 4:eeth they may be called, of this animal are very peculiar, consisting of four horny channeled plates, two in each jaw, which serve to crush the fragile shells and coverings of the animals on which it fe?ds. It seems seldom to feed during the day, or in the depth of night, preferring for that purpose the first dusk of evening or the dawn of morning. During the rest of the day it is generally asleep. While sleeping, it curls itself into a round ball, the tail shutting down over the head and serving to protect it. The young MuUingongs are curious little creatures, with soft, short, flexible beaks, naked skins, and almost unrecognizable as the children of their long-nosed parents. When they attain to the honour of their first coat,. SLOTH.—[CholiBfus didactylus.) they are most playful little things, knocking each other about like kittens, and rolling on the ground in the exuberance of their mirth. • Their little twinkling eyes are not well adapted for daylight, nor from their position can they see spots directly in their front, so that a pair of these little creatures that were kept by Dr. Bennett used to bump themselves against the chairs, tables, or any other object that might be in their way. They bear a further similitude to the cat in their scrupulous cleanliness and the continual washmg and pecking of their fur. The Echidn\ is found in several parts of Australia, where it is popularly called the hedgehog, on account of the hedgehog-like spines with which the body is so thickly covered, and its custom of rolling itself up when alarmed. A number of coarse hairs are intermingled with the spines, and the head is devoid of these weapons. The head is strangely lengthened,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
