316 MONOTREMATA. 



around them by their paddling action. On the slight- 

 est alarm they instantly disappear ; and indeed they 

 seldom remain longer on the surface than one or two 

 minutes, but dive head foremost with an audible 

 splash, reappearing, if not alarmed, a short distance 

 from the spot at which they dived. Their action is 

 so rapid, and their sense of danger so lively, that the 

 mere act of levellino- the sun is sufficient to cause 

 their instant disappearance ; and it is consequently 

 only by watching them when diving, and levelling 

 the piece in a direction towards the spot at which 

 they seem likely to reappear, that a fair shot at them 

 can be obtained^ A near shot is absolutely requisite ; 

 and when wounded they usually sink immediately, 

 but quickly reappear on the surface. 



A male specimen was shot, and brought out by 

 the dog, on the following morning. In a few minutes 

 it revived, and ran along the ground, instinctively 

 endeavouring to regain the water, but did not survive 

 more than twenty-five minutes. On this individual 

 Mr. G. Bennett made various experiments, with the 

 view of ascertaining the truth of the reports so ex- 

 tensively circulated of the injurious effects resulting 

 from wounds inflicted by the spur. In no way, 

 however, could he induce the animal to make use 

 of its spurs as weapons of offence ; although in its 

 struggles to escape, his hands were slightly scratched 

 by the hind claws, and even, in consequence of the 

 position in which he held it, by the spur also. The 

 result of several subsequent repetitions of the ex- 

 periment with animals not in a wounded state was 



