256 MR. G. BENNETT ON THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF 
specimen has been placed in deep water for even 15 or 20 minutes, without allowing 
it an opportunity to get into shallow water, that when taken out it has been much 
fatigued by its exertions. 
I arrived with the little family of Ornithorhynchi safe at Sidney, and as they survived 
for some time, an opportunity was afforded me of observing their habits. The little 
animals appeared often to dream of swimming, as I have frequently seen their fore paws 
in movement as if in the act. If I placed them on the ground during the day, they ran 
about seeking some dark corner for repose ; but when put in a dark corner or in a box, 
they huddled themselves up as soon as they became a little reconciled to the place and 
went to sleep. I found that they would sleep on a table, sofa, or indeed in any place ; 
but,. if permitted, would always resort to that in which they had previously been accus- 
tomed to repose. Still, although for days together they would sleep in the place made 
up for them, yet on a sudden, from some unaccountable caprice, they would shift their 
resting-place, and seek repose behind a box or in some dark corner in preference to 
their former habitation. They usually reposed side by side like a pair of furred balls, 
and awful little growls issued from them when disturbed ; but when very sound asleep 
they might be handled and examined with impunity. One evening both the animals 
came out about dusk, went as usual and ate food from the saucer, and then commenced 
playing one with the other like two puppies, attacking with their mandibles and raising 
the fore paws against each other. In the struggle one would get thrust down, and at 
the moment when the spectator would expect it to rise again and renew the combat, it 
would commence scratching itself, its antagonist looking on and waiting for the sport to 
be renewed. When running they are exceedingly animated, their little eyes glisten, and 
the orifices of their ears contract and dilate with rapidity : if taken into the hands at this 
time for examination, they struggle violently to escape, and their loose integuments 
render it difficult to retain them. Their eyes being placed so high on the head, they 
do not see objects well in a straight line, and consequently run against everything in 
the room during their perambulations, spreading confusion among all the light and 
readily overturnable articles. I have occasionally seen them elevate the head as if to 
regard objects above or around them. Sometimes I have been able to enter into play 
with them, by scratching and tickling them with my finger; they seemed to enjoy it 
exceedingly, opening their mandibles, biting playfully at the finger, and moving about 
like puppies indulged with similar treatment. As well as combing their fur to clean it 
when wet, I have also seen them peck it with their beak (if the term may be allowed) as 
a Duck would clean its feathers. Between this and the combing of the hind feet, it is 
interesting to see them engaged in the operations of the toilet, by which their coats ac- 
quire an increased clean and glossy appearance. When I placed them in a pan of deep 
water, they were eager to get out after being there for only a short time ; but when the 
water was shallow, with a turf of grass placed in one corner, they enjoyed it exceedingly. 
They would sport together, attacking one another with their mandibles, and roll over in 
ee 

