THE PLATYPUS. 365 



great facility ; the web which intervenes between the toes is 

 of a tough leathery consistence, and from its extending be- 

 yond the claws might seem to be an impediment in the way 

 of these instruments being fairly and effectually used. It 

 would appear, however, that being loose it falls back, (being 

 perhaps voluntarily retained so,) while the creature is engaged 

 in its laborious task of burrowing, so as not to interfere with 

 the due application of the claws. The advantage of this 

 broad web in an aquatic animal, or one that spends so great 

 a portion of its existence in the water, is very apparent. The 

 hind feet are smaller than the anterior, but also webbed, 

 though the membrane does not extend beyond the roots of 

 the claws, which are sharp and longer than those of the fore- 

 feet. On the hind leg of the male there is, as its peculiar 

 characteristic, a strong sharp spur, the use of which does not. 

 appear to be very easy of explanation. It is certainly not 

 used as a weapon of offence ; nor are the scratches made by 

 it, during the struggles of the animal, on the hands of those 

 who endeavor to hold it, attended with the slightest ill conse- 

 quence. Formerly this spur was supposed to be a poisoned 

 weapon, by which dangerous, if not fatal wounds were in- 

 flicted. This is most certainly not the case. It appears that 

 the mistake arose from the misapplication of English words 

 or expressions by the aborigines. 



The most singular part of the Ornithorhynchus, however, 

 is the head ; at least as regards the external configuration of 

 the animal. Instead of terminating in a snout, as in other 

 mammalia, it is continued into a beak resembling that of a 

 duck, being broad, compressed, and rounded at the lip ; the 

 mandibles of which this beak consists are covered with a 

 cartilaginous or leathery membrane the outside of the upper 

 membrane being greyish black the palate flesh-color ; the 

 under mandible is flesh-color within, and whitish externally. 

 The edges of both are soft, and the lower, which is shorter 

 and narrower than the upper, has its sides internally chan- 

 nelled with grooves like those of a duck, but larger and wider 

 apart. At the base of the beak a loose leathery flap projects 



