774 THE DUCK-BILL, OR MULLINGONG, 
as it swings from a branch. On looking at the skeleton, a most curious structure 
presents itself, On a side view, the cavity of the chest is completely hidden by the ribs, 
which are greatly flattened, and overlap each other so that on a hasty glance the ribs 
appear to be formed of one solid piece of bone. There are only two claws on the fore-feet 
and four on the hinder limbs. 
The Little Ant-eater is a native of tropical America, and is always to be found on trees, 
where it generally takes up its residence, and where it finds its sustenance. It possesses 
many squirrel-like customs, using 
its fore-claws with great dexterity, 
and hooking the smaller insects out 
of the bark crevices in which they 
have taken unavailing refuge. 
While thus employed it sits upon 
its hind limbs, supporting itself 
with its prehensile tail. The claws 
are compressed, curved, and very 
sharp, and the little animal can 
use these instruments with some 
force as offensive weapons, and 
can strike smart blows with them. 
It is a bold little creature, attacking 
the nests of wasps, putting its 
little paw into the combs, and 
dragging the grubs from their 
cells. 
Like its larger relations, it is 
nocturnal in its habits, and sleeps 
during the day with its tail safely 
twisted round the branch on which 
it sits. The generic name, Cyclo- 
thurus, signifies “ twisted-tail,” and 
is very appropriate to the animal. 
THERE are few animals which 
have attracted such universal 
attention, both from scientific men 
and the reading world in general, 
as the MuLLINGoNG, DvUCK-BILL, 
or PLatypus, of Australia. This 
little creature, the largest being 
but twenty-two inches in length, 
has excited more interest than 
anmals of a thousand times its 
dimensions, on account of its ex- 
LITTLE ANT-EATER.—Cyclothiirus didéetylus traordinary shape and singular 
habits. It is most appropriately 
called the Duck-bill, on account 
of the curious development of the intermaxillary bones, which are very much flattened 
and elongated, and their ends turned inwards in a kind of angular hook. The lower 
Jaw is also lengthened and flattened, although not to such an extent as the upper, and 
the bones are covered with a naked skin, 
In the stuffed and dried specimens the “beak” appears as if it were composed of the black 
leather taken from an old shoe, but in the living animal it presents a very different aspect, 
being soft, rounded, and of a pinky hue at its tip, mottled with a number of little spots. Dr. 
Bennett, to whom the zoological world is so much indebted for his researches into the 
habits of this curious animal, kindly showed me some excellent drawings, which gave a 
