NEW SOUTH WALES. f£Z 



QUADRUPEDS. 



OR^ITHORHYNCHUS PARADOXUS. 



This animal, which has obtained the name 

 of Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus, is still very 

 little known. It is found only to inhabit fresh- 

 water lakes in the interior parts of the country. 

 It swims not on the surface of the water, but 

 comes up to breathe, in the same manner as 

 the turtle. The natives often sit on the banks, 

 with spears and watch their rising to the sur- 

 face, till they get a good opportunity of ftrik- 

 ing them, which they do with their usual 

 dexterity, and frequently succeed in catching 

 them. 



Governor Hunter once saw a native watching 

 one above an hour before he threw his spear at 

 it; but at length he drove it through the neck 

 and fore leg, and when he brought it on fliore, 

 it used its claws with such force, that it be- 

 came requisite to confine it between two pieces 

 of board, while they cut off the barbs of the 

 spear, to.disengage it. When freed, it ran on the 

 ground with as great activity as a land tortoise, 

 which was much faster than the structure of 

 its fore feet seemed to promise. It inhabits 

 the banks of lakes, and feeds in the muddy 

 places which surrounds them ; but its food is 

 unknown. 



The male is \7\ inches in length, from the 

 point of the bill to the extremity of the tail. 



$ i 



