﻿THE DUCK-BILLS. 237 



mentioned. Although the usual number of eggs is two, it ap- 

 pears that there may be occasionally either three or four. After 

 the period of suckling ceases, the young are said to be fed by 

 the parent on insects and comminuted shell-fish, until suffi- 

 ciently strong and active to shift for themselves. 



Describing the capture of a pair of well-advanced young in 

 the nest, Dr. Bennett states that when first seen, although 

 there was plenty of growling, " there was no movement on the 

 part of the animals to escape. On being taken out, they were 

 found to be full-furred young ones, coiled up asleep, and they 

 growled exceedingly at being exposed to the light of day. 

 There were two of them, a male and female, of the dimensions 

 of ten inches from the extremity of the beak to that of the tail. 

 They had a most beautiful, sleek, and delicate appearance, and 

 seemed never to have left the burrow. The nest, if it may be 

 so termed, consisted of dry river-weeds, the epidermis of reeds, 

 and small dry fibrous roots, strewed over the floor of the 

 cavity, which was of sufficient size to contain the mother and 

 her young." 



As we have said, the food of the Duck-bill consists of 

 various small water-anin>ils, such as crustaceans, insects and 

 their larvae, snails and worms, which are dug out of the soft 

 mud by the tender muzzle, and are taken into the mouth 

 accompanied by a considerable quantity of sand, which results 

 in the rapid wearing away of the molar teeth of the young 

 animal. Sleeping for the greater portion of the day comfort- 

 ably roiled up in their burrows, the Duck-bills are mainly noc- 

 turnal in their habits, not generally issuing forth to feed till the 

 shades of evening proclaim the approach of night, although at 

 times they m.ay be seen abroad in full daylight. Except for 

 the loud growling uttered when they are dug out of their 

 burrows, it appears that they are for the m.ost part silent 

 creatures. 



