236 MR. G. BENNETT ON THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF 
often escape observation ; for their suppleness and colour when wet, would cause them 
to be regarded only as masses of weeds, such as are so often seen floating about the 
rivers. Such at least was their appearance when lying dead on the surface of the water, 
or when drifted by the current against the stump of a tree, or among the reeds and 
bullrushes which grow so profusely near and upon the banks. 
A few minutes after the animal had been taken out of the water it revived and ran 
along the ground, instinctively endeavouring to regain the water, but with an unsteady 
motion. In about twenty-five minutes from the time of its capture, it gave a few con- 
vulsive sighs and expired. 
This specimen being a male, and having heard so much related about the injurious 
effects resulting from a puncture by the spur, I determined to avail myself of the op- 
portunity to ascertain the correctness of the assertion. The wounded state of the 
animal presented no objection to the experiment, as in one published account in which 
the poison is reported to have produced such terrible effects, the animal was also mor- 
tally wounded. As soon, therefore, as it became lively, I put its ‘‘ poisonous spurs” to 
the test. I commenced by placing my hands in such a manner, when seizing the animal, 
as to enable it, from the direction of the spurs, to use them with effect: the result was 
that the animal made strenuous efforts to escape, and in these efforts scratched my hands 
a little with the hind claws, and even, in consequence of the position in which I held it, 
with the spur also. But although seized so roughly, it neither darted the spur into my 
hand, nor did it even make an attempt so to do. As, however, it had been stated that 
the creature throws itself on the back when it uses this weapon!, (a circumstance not 
very probable to those who have any knowledge of the animal,) I tried it also in that 
position ; but though it struggled to regain its former posture, no use was made of the 
hind claw. I tried several other methods of effecting the object I had in view, but as 
all proved futile, I am convinced that some other use must be found for the spur than 
as an offensive weapon. I have had several subsequent opportunities of repeating 
the experiments with animals not in a wounded state, and the results have been the 
same. 
These animals are seen in the Australian rivers at all seasons of the year, but a 
question may arise whether they do not in some degree hybernate, for they are more 
abundant during the summer than in the winter months. During floods or freshes 
it is, however, not an uncommon occurrence to’ see them travelling up and down the 
rivers. When going down, they allow themselves to be carried along by the force 
of the stream, without making any exertion of their own; but when swimming against 
the stream, all their muscular power is exerted to the utmost to stem the force 
' Some of the settlers consider the spur of the Ornithorhynchus as poisonous, not from any experience of 
their own, but in consequence of the aborigines saying, alluding to the spur, ‘It is very saucy ;” such being 
their English expression when they wish to imply that anything is hurtful or poisonous: they apply, however, 
the same expression to the scratching of the hind feet of the animal. It is also certain that they never seem 
afraid of handling in any way the male Ornithorhynchus alive. 
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