246 MR. G. BENNETT ON THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF 
animals. Spades were consequently sent for; but when our sable friend Daraga heard 
‘the word “‘ digging” pronounced, his countenance exhibited anything but a gleam of 
satisfaction, for he had evidently a strong aversion to work of that kind; and think- 
ing that in the natural course of events, being black, a greater share of the labour 
would fall upon him than upon us who were “‘ white fellers,”” he endeavoured to creep 
out of the scrape by declaring the burrow an old one and not worth examining. 
Being now, however, perfectly satisfied that it was an inhabited burrow, in a place to 
be dug up with more facility than any I had yet seen, I was not to be deterred from 
my purpose. Seeing that my resolution was not to be set aside by the force of his 
eloquence, Daraga sat down at a short distance from the scene of operation, con- 
soling himself with a pipe of tobacco. When, however, he found that the operation of 
digging was not to be confined to himself, he came and assisted in the exploration by 
passing a stick up the burrow, in order to ascertain its direction. The entrance of the 
burrow was large, particularly when compared with the width of the passage continued 
from it, measuring one foot three inches in depth, and one foot one inch in breadth. 
Instead of laying the burrow entirely open from the entrance to the termination, which 
would have been a laborious undertaking, holes were opened at certain distances in the 
direction of the burrow, according to the method adopted by the aborigines. The na- 
tive Daraga assisted us by digging also with a sharp-pointed stick, and he was able to 
effect his object with much greater rapidity by it than we with our spades. 
The burrow became narrower as it receded from the entrance, being about the usual 
breadth of the animal when uncontracted. After having traced it for the distance of 
ten feet four inches, and having just delved down upon it so as to perceive it still con- 
tinuing its course up the bank, the beak and head of a Water-Mole were seen pro- 
truding for an instant from the upper part, as if it had been disturbed from its repose, 
and had come down to see what we were about with its habitation. It only remained 
for an instant ; for as soon as it beheld us, imagining no doubt that we could be there 
making such a noise for no very benevolent purpose, it immediately turned up to 
take refuge in that part of the burrow which yet remained unexplored. In turning 
round, however, it was seized by the hind leg and dragged out. The animal appeared 
very much alarmed when it was hauled out of its subterraneous dwelling: it discharged 
its urine (which had rather a strong odour) and its feces when first caught, which I 
attribute to fear, for this is not usual with other living specimens that I have since seen. 
It uttered no sound, nor did it attempt to bite; and proved to be a full-grown female. 
When J held the unfortunate Platypus in my hands, its bright little eyes glistened, and 
the orifices of the ears were expanded and contracted alternately, as if eager to catch 
the slightest sound, while its heart palpitated violently with fear and anxiety. After it 
had been retained in the hands for some time and had lost its first fear, although 
it occasionally struggled to escape, it seemed to become more reconciled to its situa- 
tion, 
