THE PLATYPUS. 



PLATE XLVI. 



Class Mammalia. Order It has been called Ornithor- 



hynchus by some, and Aroatinus by others. Oenus 



Platypus. 



AMONG the strange and interesting productions of that 

 little explored country, Australia, not one is so anomalous, so 

 wonderful, such a stumbling-block to the naturalist, as the 

 Ornithorhynchus, Platypus^ or, as it is termed by the colo- 

 nists, the Water-mole. Its first discovery created the utmost 

 surprise ; nor has the feeling much abated. The Ornithor- 

 hynchus is essentially aquatic in its habits, frequenting the 

 more tranquil or currentless portions of the rivers, in the banks 

 of which it excavates its burrow to a considerable depth. 

 If we examine the animal we shall see how well it is adapted 

 for such a mode of life. The total length of the adult 

 Ornithonhynchus is about one foot six or seven inches ; the 

 body is long, reminding one not only in shape but in color of 

 the otter. It is covered with a double coat of fur, like aquatic 

 mammalia in general : the outer vest consists of long, fine 

 glossy hair, thickly set, which in some individuals assumes a 

 crisped appearance ; beneath this, close to the skin, is a layer 

 of short soft fur, forming an almost water-proof wadding. 

 The tail, which is broad and flattened, terminates abruptly, 

 and is covered above with'longer and coarser hairs than those 

 of the body ; the under surface of the tail, however, is almost 

 destitute of covering at least the hairs are short and thinly 

 set. 



The limbs are remarkable for their strength and shortness ; 

 the anterior pair especially are very muscular, and the feet 

 well adapted for burrowing, notwithstanding their being 

 largely webbed. The toes are five in number, and terminate 

 in strong blunt claws, capable of scratching the earth with 



