308 Zoological Society. 



of Platypus imposed on it by Shaw. He remarks on the distor- 

 tions to which the exceedingly loose integuments are liable in the 

 hands of staffers unacquainted with the characteristic features of 

 the animal, and gives the general result of his measurements, in the 

 recent state, of fifteen specimens shot and captured alive, as aver- 

 aging in the males from 1 foot 7 to 1 foot 8 inches, and in the fe- 

 males from 1 foot 6 to 1 foot 7 inches, in total length. One male 

 specimen, shot near the Murrumbidgee River, measured 1 foot IH 

 inches ; and a female, shot in the afternoon of the same day in the 

 same part of the river, measured only 1 foot 4 inches. In these spe- 

 cimens the relative proportions of the beak and tail were subject to 

 considerable variation. 



Mr. G. Bennett's observations were commenced on the 4th of 

 October 1832, at Mundoona in the Murray Country, on a part of the 

 Yas River running through the estate of Mr. James Rose. The 

 Water-Moles (as these animals are called by the Colonists,) chiefly 

 frequent the open and tranquil parts of the stream, covered with 

 aquatic plants, where the steep and shaded banks afford excellent 

 situations for the excavation of their burrows. Such expanses of 

 water are by the Colonists called " ponds." The animals may be 

 readily recognised by their dark bodies just seen level with the sur- 

 face, above which the head is slightly raised, and by the circles made 

 in the water around them by their paddling action. On the slight- 

 est alarm they instantly disappear ; and indeed they seldom remain 

 longer on the surface than one or two minutes, but dive head fore- 

 most with an audible splash, reappearing, if not alarmed, a short 

 distance from the spot at which they dived. Their action is so rapid, 

 and their sense of danger so lively, that the mere act of levelling the 

 gun is sufficient to cause their instant disappearance ; and it is con- 

 sequently only by watching them when diving, and levelling the 

 piece in a direction towards the spot at which they seem likely to 

 reappear, that a fair shot at them can be obtained. A near shot is 

 absolutely requisite ; and when wounded they usually sink immedi- 

 ately, but quickly reappear on the surface. 



A male specimen was shot, and brought out by the dog, on the 

 following morning. In a few minutes it revived, and ran along the 

 ground, instinctively endeavouring to regain the water, but did not 

 survive more than twenty-five minutes. On this individual Mr. G. 

 Bennett made various experiments, with the view of ascertaining 

 the truth of the reports so extensively circulated of the injurious 

 effects resulting from wounds inflicted by the spur. In no way, 

 however, could he induce the animal to make use of its spurs as 

 weapons of offence ; although in its struggles to escape, his hands 

 were slightly scratched by the hind claws, and even, in consequence 

 of the position in which he held it, by the spur also. The result of 

 several subsequent repetitions of the experiment with animals not 

 in a wounded state was the same. The natives, too, never seem fear- 

 ful of handling the male Ornithorhynchus alive. 



On the evening of the same day a female was shot, which died 

 almost immediately on being taken out of the water. In this speci- 



