The head of the echidna is small and pointed, its eyes are nearly hidden under its quills; so are its ears, which are merely holes without external appendages. The frontal bone of the skull is prolonged into a slim snout not unlike a slender bill. Near the end of this snout are the nostrils. This snout is mostly covered with thin skin. The mouth orifice is small, but large enough for all the creature’s needs; its manner of eating is to thrust out a long, flexible, delicate tongue covered with a glue-like substance. To this insects adhere, and the tongue being drawn in, the insects are swallowed. The echidna has no teeth; as its food is ants and small flies it needs none. The tongue and palate are covered with fine spines which no doubt crush the insect food. On account of its diet this creature was formerly called the ant-eater, but that name has been dropped, as it belongs to a very different creature, the true ant-eater of the order Edentata. The legs of the echidna are short and strong. The feet are not webbed, but are furnished with very powerful claws, and are admirably fitted for digging. The hind-feet have such a spur as was described in the chapter on the duck-bill. The body of the echidna is covered with a close short fur; among this fur grow long spines thickly set, which project above the fur and entirely hide it. These spines are directed from the head backwards, but along the upper part of the body a large number of spines are also turned inward; thus they cross each other, and form a thorny, nearly impenetrable covering. The tail is very short, and is entirely hidden by projecting spines. When the echidna rolls itself up the spines stand out like a bristling thorn hedge all over the ball which it forms, and this sharp armor is ample defence. The mouth of a dog, or the hand of a man endeavoring to seize the curled up echidna would be speedily withdrawn, pricked and bleeding. The echidna seems quite aware of the defensive quality of its coat, for when alarmed it tranquilly curls up and defies attack. Sometimes, however, it prefers to take refuge in burrowing, and it will disappear as quickly as a mole or a razor-shell clam. The echidna is less easily tamed than the mallangong; it is restive, and constantly tries to burrow out a path of escape. On the other hand it seems of a hardier constitution; it has been carried across the sea, and has lived for some years in foreign zoological gardens. The mallangong has never survived an ocean voyage, and has been seen in captivity only in its native country. When travelling at sea the echidna is deprived of its natural insect-diet, but lives very comfortably on sweet liquids.