that ftttgular Animal the OrnhhorhynoJjus paradoxus. 507 



The cavity of the mouth is fituated as in other quadrupeds, and has two grinding teeth 

 on each fide, both in the upper and lower jaw; but, inftead of incifor teeth, the nafal and 

 palate bones are continued forwards, lengthening the anterior noftrils, and forming the 

 upper part of the beak ; and the two portions of the lower jaw, inftead of terminating at 

 the fymphifis, where they join, become two thin plates, and are continued forw'ards, 

 forming the under portion of the beak. 



This ftrufture differs materially from the bill of the duck, and indeed from the bills of 

 all birds, fince in them, the cavities of the noftrils do not extend beyond the root of the 

 bill ; and, in their lower portions, which correfpond to the under jaw of quadrupeds, the 

 edges are hard, to anfwer the purpofe of teeth, and the middle fpace is hollow, to receive 

 the tongue. But, in this animal, the two thin plates of bone are in the centre ; and the 

 parts which furround them are compofed of fkin and membrane, in which a mufcular 

 ftruflure probably is inclofed. 



The teeth have no fangs which link into the jaw, as in moft quadrupeds, but are im^ 

 bedded in the gum ; and have only lateral alveolar procefies, from the outer and inner 

 edges of the jaw, to fecure them in their places, but no tranverfe ones between the 

 two teeth. 



The tongue is extremely fliort, not half an inch long ; and the moveable portion not 

 more than a quarter of an inch ; the papilla: on its furface are long, and of a conical 

 form. When the tongue is drawn in, it can be brought intirely into the mouth ; and, 

 when extended, can be projefted about a quarter of an inch into the beak. 



The organ of fmell, in this animal, differs, in fome particulars, from that of quadrupeds 

 in general, as well as of birds. The external openings of this organ are placed nearly at 

 the end of the beak, there being only the lip beyond them ; while the turbinated bones are 

 in the fame relative fituation to the other parts of the (kull as in quadrupeds ; by which 

 means, there arc two cavities the whole length of the beak, fuperadded to the organ of 

 fmell. 



The turbinated bones in each noftril are two in number, and are diftindl from each 

 other. That next the beak is the longeft, has a more variegated furface than in the duck, 

 and has the long axis in the direftion of the noftril ; the pofterior one is fhort, proje£ts 

 farther into the noftril, and the ridges are in a tranfverfe direction. 



The pofterior noftrils do not open dire£lly under the turbinated bones, as in the duck, 

 but about an inch farther back, and are extremely fmall ; the cavities of the nofe, in this 

 animal, are therefore uncommonly extenfive ; they reach from the end of the beak nearly 

 to the occiput. 



The beak itfelf is formed by the projecting bones already mentioned, covered with a 

 fmooth black fkin, which extends fome way beyond the bones, both in front and laterally, 

 forming a moveable lip. This lip is fo ftrong, that, when dried or hardened in fpirit, it 

 Xeems to be rigid ; but, when moiftened, is very pliant, and, as has been already men- 

 tioned, has probably a mufcular ftrufture. The under portion of the beak has a lip 



3 T 2 equally 



