52 NATUEAL HISTOET SKETCHES. 



common water-rat, and the feet are large and flat. The 

 skin is beautifully soft, and, I believe, valuable. 



The duck-billed platypus, or water-mole, as it is called 

 here, is found in the Yarra, the Exe, and many of the 

 streams to the north and east of Melbourne, but I never 

 met with it in the Western-port district. It is also com- 

 mon in many of the inland streams, and not rare in the 

 Saw-mill Creek, on the Dandenong ranges. They are 

 remarkably shy animals, and rarely seen, except at 

 evening, when they come up to the top of the water, 

 and look like so many black bottles floating on the 

 surface, and sink down directly, if alarmed. 



They only are found in fresh water, and I never saw 

 them in any still detached water-holes. They may be 

 shot by quietly watching the stream in the evening, and 

 will take a bait, as a small piece of potato on a hook. 



The singular form of the platypus must be well known 

 to all ; for the OrnithorJiyncJtus paradoxus of New Hol- 

 land has long ranked among the wonders of the world. 

 I have generally seen them 1 foot to 18 inches long, and 

 the shovel-bill 2 inches ; the colour dark brown, the 

 fur stiff and bristly, and I never saw the skins used 

 for any other purpose than making tobacco-pouches. 

 The tail is short, the bod} broad and flat, and the whole 

 appearance of the animal betokens its mode of life. 

 Although gregarious, I do not think they live in colonies, 

 but each pair occupy a hole in the bank, often a long 

 way under ground. I think they are amphibious, but I 

 never saw them basking on the bank, and the position of 



