ORNITHORHYNCHUS PARADOXUS. 313 



the tip, 1 inch 2 lines ; length of tail, 5 inches ; 

 width, 2<| inches ; length of fore-foot to end of 

 claws, 1 inch 1 lines ; of hind-foot to end of claws, 

 2 inches 8 lines ; length of spur rather more than 

 half an inch. 



Several species of Ornithorhynchus are enumerated 

 in Zoological works. In the "Voyage de Decouverts 

 c." by Peron, we find two Ornithorhynchi charac- 

 terized and figured under the names 0. fuscus arid 

 0. rufus. These species M. Temminck and some 

 other authors regard as distinct; there are others, 

 however, who do not consider them well established. 

 The animal I have described agrees in its colouring 

 with the 0. fuscus ; the 0. rufus, it would appear, 

 differs chiefly in being of a brighter and richer brown. 

 Desmarest says the 0. fuscus is perhaps only a variety 

 of the 0. rufuS) " cependant son poil differe en ce 

 qu'il est aplati et crepu, au lieu d'etre comme celui 

 de ce dernier animal, mince et lisse." Now in speci 

 mens before me I find such a difference two bright 

 red dish -brown individuals differ from several others 

 of a darker and less bright colour, in having the fur 

 longer and less crisp ; the points of the hairs are all 

 directed backwards whilst in the dull brown speci- 

 mens the fur has a grizzled appearance, the hairs 

 being pointed in various directions. The rufous 

 specimens are smaller than the others, and have a 

 much stouter spur and narrower beak ; the under 

 parts of the head and body are almost white. A 

 specimen in the British Museum, said to be the 

 original of Shaw's description, is evidently the 0. 

 rufus supposing the two species to be distinct. 



