224 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



the Nepean River and its neighbourhood remained 

 the only known haunt of these animals. The duckbill 

 has never yet been brought alive to Europe, though 

 one did survive a portion of the journey; perhaps 

 this was the individual intended for the Frankfort 

 Zoological Gardens some four years ago, which failed 

 to reach its destination. These animals have been 

 kept in the Zoological Gardens at Melbourne in a 

 fenced pond well supplied with insects and water 

 plants ; and could a sufficient quantity of natural 

 food say water mussels be taken on the voyage, 

 a living ornithorhynchus might yet be seen in this 

 country. Many years ago Mr. Bennett had some 

 young duckbill alive in Australia. If disturbed when 

 asleep they growled, but when awake they were 

 good tempered, playing together like young puppies, 

 and pretending to bite. In spite of every care they 

 died in a few weeks. 



These words conclude this Essay ; and this Essay 

 concludes the present work ; and the present work 

 completes a series of three volumes dealing with the 

 mammalia. Written on the same plan throughout, 

 the Essays will, it is hoped, serve as some introduc- 

 tion to the class of which they treat. A brief review 

 of the subject may not be out of place ; let us call 

 some of the actors before the curtain. The tiny 

 fennec fox steals across the sand dunes, preying on 

 the jerboa rats in the moonlit desert ; the long-extinct 

 blaauwbok stands at gaze, its handsome horns 



