272 THE MULLINGONG. 



The Little Ant-eater is a native of tropical America, and is always 

 to be found on trees, where it generally takes up its residence, and 

 where it finds its sustenance. It possesses many squirrel-like customs, 

 using its fore-claws with great dexterity, and hooking the smaller 

 insects out of the bark crevices in which they have taken unavailing 

 refuge. While thus employed it sits upon its hind-limbs, supporting 

 itself with its prehensile tail. The claws are compressed, curved, and 

 very sharp, and the little animal can use these instruments with some 

 force as offensive weapons, and can strike smart blows with them. It 

 is a bold little creature, attacking the nests of wasps, putting its little paw 

 into the combs, and dragging the grubs from their cells. 



Like its larger relations, it is nocturnal in its habits, and sleeps during 

 the day with its tail safely twisted round the branch on which it sits. 

 The generic name, Cyclothurus, signifies " twisted tail," and is very 

 appropriate to the animal. 



There are few animals which have attracted such universal attention, 

 from both scientific men and the reading world in general, as the 

 MuLLiNGONG, DucK-BiLL, or Platypus, of Australia. This little 

 creature, the largest being but twenty-two inches in length, has excited 

 more interest than animals of a thousand times its dimensions, on 

 account of its extraordinary shape and singular habits. It is most 

 appropriately called the Duck-bill, on account of the curious develop- 

 ment of the intermaxillary bones, which are very much flattened and 

 elongated, and their ends turned inward in a kind of angular hook. 

 The lower jaw is also lengthened and flattened, although not to such 

 an extent as the upper, and the bones are covered with a naked skin. 



In the stuffed and dried specimens the " beak " appears as if it were 

 composed of the black leather taken from an old shoe, but in the living 

 animal it presents a very different aspect, being soft, rounded, and of 

 a pinky hue at its tip, mottled with a number of little spots. Dr. 

 Bennett, to whom the zoological world is so much indebted for his re^ 

 searches into the habits of this curious animal, kindly showed me some 

 excellent drawings, which gave a very different idea of the animal 

 from that which is obtained by the examination of stuffed skins. The 

 beak is well supplied with nerves, and appears to be a sensitive organ 

 of touch, by means of which the animal is enabled to feel as well as to 

 smell the insects and other creatures on which it feeds. 



The MuUingong is an essentially aquatic and burrowing animal, and 

 is formed expressly for its residence in the water or under the earth. 

 The fur is thick and soft, and is readily dried while the animal enjoys 

 good health, although it becomes wet and draggled when the creature 

 is weakly. The opening of the ears is small and can be closed at will, 

 and the feet are furnished with large and complete webs, extending be- 

 yond the claws in the fore-limbs, and to their base in the hind-legs. The 



