244 MR. G. BENNETT ON THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF 
On examining the uterine organs of this specimen on the following morning, I found 
the right uterus distended, and measuring 22 inches in length; but on laying open its 
interior it was found not to contain any ova. The left uterus was vascular ; and on 
laying open the interior, the inner surface was found thickened, corrugated, and vas- 
cular: at the loose part I found two white semi-transparent ova, about the size of, or 
rather smaller than, buck-shot. They lay perfectly unattached to the uterus, and readily 
came out. On placing them on my hand, and then holding them up to the light, I 
could distinctly perceive a yelk of a very pale yellow colour, which, in whatever direc- 
tion I turned the ovum, fell to the under surface. After the ova had been taken out of 
the uterus, and the moisture which covered them at that time had become dried up, 
they lost their semi-transparent appearance, and became opake ; but being replaced in 
the moist uterus they soon regained their former appearance. Like all those which I 
had previously seen they had a firm tough external membrane, which enabled them to 
be handled and examined without injury to their structure. A cluster of ova was situ- 
ated in the usual place over each uterus in this specimen. 
In all the females that I had now dissected, I had experienced much difficulty in 
finding the abdominal or mammary glands : indeed, had I not been previously acquainted 
with their situation, I should, in their present stage, have passed them over altogether. 
On one occasion a native was overlooking me when busily engaged in seeking for the 
gland. Perfectly aware, although I had not informed him, for what I sought, he pointed 
out its situation, saying at the same time, ‘‘ Milliken (milk) come all same as from cow.” 
When I told him that I could hardly see it, he replied, ‘‘ Bye and bye, when pickaninny 
come, cobbong (large), milliken come.” 
On the afternoon of this day (October 8th) the usual ramble was taken on the banks, 
to observe and procure specimens of these animals. As the native Daraga came from 
Mr. Manton’s to Mundoona this afternoon, he accompanied us, and we availed ourselves 
of the opportunity to obtain his assistance in seeking for burrows. On a steep bank at 
one part of the river, the keen-sighted native pointed out to our uninitiated eyes the 
tracks of these animals on the moist earth close to the water; which tracks being fol- 
lowed up the bank at a distance varying from two to five feet, the entrance of the bur- 
row, concealed by the long grass and shrubs, was soon discovered, and the tracks had 
evidently a very recent appearance. Following the same method as he had adopted 
when the last burrow was discovered, the native placed his hand within it, and took 
from its lower surface pieces of clay on which impressions of the animal’s feet were 
distinctly marked ; but from the situation of these burrows I regarded it as next to im- 
possible to explore them. We had often during this excursion mistaken the holes of 
water-rats and other animals for those of the Ornithorhynchus ; but our tawny com- 
panion always told us to what animal they belonged, at the same time readily pointing 
out the differences. 
Very late in the evening we watched two Water-Moles paddling about in a small pond 
