DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 43 



are not voluntary assistants : they only act by command ; 

 and do violence to their natural disposition, when they 

 are cruel without provocation. 



It is scarcely necessary to mention, that the teeth of 

 this animal are of great value, and that they furnish the 

 article of ivory. For the sake of these alone, elephants 

 are frequently killed ; and the hunter who is fortunate 

 enough to obtain such a prize, thinks himself amply re- 

 compensed for his danger and trouble in the chase. 



The elephant is said to live upwards of a hundred years. 

 To his longevity and other prominent qualities, THOMSON 

 alludes in the following animated lines : 



Peaceful, beneath primeval trees, that cast 

 Their ample shade o'er Niger's yellow stream, 

 And where the Ganges rolls his sacred wave ; 

 Or mid the central depth of black'ning woods, 

 High raised in solemn theatre around; 

 Leans the huge ELEPHANT, wisest of brutes. 

 O truly wise ! with gentle might endow'd ; 

 Though powerful, not destructive. Here he sees 

 Revolving ages sweep the changeful earth, 

 And empires rise and fall ; regardless he 

 Of what the never-resting race of men 

 Project : thrice happy could he 'scape their guile ! 

 Who mine, from cruel avarice, his steps; 

 Or with his tow'ry grandeur swell their state, 

 The pride of kings ; or else his strength pervert, 

 And bid him rage amid the mortal fray, 

 Astonish'd at the madness of mankind. 



DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 



This singular animal is a native of New Holland; but 

 is scarce, and little known. A projection over the mouth 

 resembles the beak of a duck, from which it derives its 

 name, though it has teeth like other quadrupeds. Its 

 length, from the tip of the beak to the extremity of the 

 tail, is little more than a foot, and the whole form and 

 appearance have some resemblance to the otter. The fur 

 is soft, of a darkish brown colour, and whitish beneath. 

 The feet are short, and terminate in a broad web : from 



