ORNITHORHYNCHUS PARADOXUS. 311 



is easily discoverable, as the animal has the facility 

 of closing or opening it at will ; in dead specimens 

 being closed, it would not readily be perceived by a 

 person unacquainted with its exact situation." The 

 legs are remarkably short, and it would appear,, are 

 not long enough to keep the body from touching the 

 ground. Both fore and hind-feet are furnished with 

 five well-developed toes, those of the fore-feet are 

 provided with long, solid, slightly depressed claws, 

 which are nearly straight ; not only is the space be- 

 tween these toes webbed, but the web is extended so 

 as to reach considerably beyond the end of the claws, 

 hence when the foot is expanded a large surface is 

 presented to the water, and enables the animal to 

 swim with considerable rapidity. On land, and 

 when the animal wishes to burrow, the free portion 

 of the web is folded back, and leaves unencumbered 

 the powerful claws. 



The hind-feet are also webbed, but here the web 

 does not extend beyond the tip of the toes ; the claws 

 on these feet are long, curved, compressed, and point- 

 ed ; the three middle toes terminate nearly on the 

 same line, but the inner toe is shorter. On the heel 

 is a large stout and sharply pointed spur, which is 

 slightly curved and said to be moveable. The tail 

 is short, broad, and depressed. The fur is short, 

 very dense, and rather soft to the touch, and com- 

 bines the properties usually found in that of an 

 aquatic animal and that of one whose habit is to 

 burrow; it will readily expel both the water and the 

 dust ; it is composed of hairs of two kinds, the one 



