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Show 1881.] MR. BENNETT ON THE HABITS OF THE ECHIDNA. 737 Fregetta-form a very well-marked family of the Tubinares, which may be called Oceanitidse, as distinguished from the remainder of the group, or Fulmaridse of Prof. Garrod. Anatomically, these four genera agree together, and differ from the Fulmaridse (on nearly all the genera of which, including Diomedea and Puffinuria, I have notes), in the two important characters already mentioned-the absence of caeca and the presence of the accessory semitendinosus muscle. Externally they may be at once recognized by their peculiar elongated tarsi, lamellar nails, and by never having more than 10 secondaries, Procellaria and Puffinuria having 13, and the remaining Fulmaridse more (in Diomedea, according to Nitzsch, as many as 40). M y family Oceanitidse, in fact, corresponds to Bonaparte's section "** Unguibus depressis" of his Procellarieae \ and to Coues's " second group " of the similarly-named section in his 'Review'2 with the addition, in each case, of Garrodia, included by both authors in the restricted genus Procellaria. Being now engaged in a report, for the Voyage of H.M.S. ' Challenger,' on the anatomy of the Petrels collected during that expedition, I propose to reserve further details of the differences and characters of these two groups, and of the genera composing them, till that occasion. 2. Observations on the Habits of the Echidna hystrix of Australia. By G E O R G E J. B E N N E T T , C.M.Z.S. [Received May 17,1881.] Having been now engaged for nearly three years in endeavouring to get an Echidna with the young in utero, that it might assist m e in ascertaining whether they are oviparous or ovoviparous, I have had the opportunity of observing the habits of this interesting little animal in its native haunts. I hope therefore that a few notes collected during that time may be of interest. Most of m y observations have been made at Rosewood, a station below the Range, and the property of Messrs. Kent and Wienholt, from whose manager, Mr. Edmund Lord, I have received much valuable assistance. Their "black boy" Johnny has always been at m y disposal. Without him I could have got very few specimens, as he is most sagacious in tracking these animals. M y first trip with Johnny showed many of the difficulties in m y way. W e saw a great many tracks, but no animals. The ground was rooted up as if so many pigs had been there tearing up the ground, which the Echidnse do with their noses, to uncover the insects lying under the dead leaves. They then go to the fallen rotten trees, quite denuding them of bark, and tearing out the rotten wood and feasting on the insects, which, on examination, I found to be small 1 Consp. Av. ii. p. 197 (1857). 2 Op. cit. p. 74, where characters for it are given. |