ORNITHORHYNCUS. 355 



the combination being one effected by the hand of Nature, and 

 serving (with others of a similar character) to draw together the 

 classes of Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles, which previously 

 appeared to be so widely separated. As in Birds, the bill 

 possesses no true teeth ; but on each side of either mandible, 

 there are two horny appendages without roots, of which one is 

 large with a rounded summit, whilst the other forms a long 

 narrow ridge near the anterior edge of the mandible. The 

 mouth is furnished with capacious cheek-pouches. The fore-feet 

 possess five toes, furnished with strong blunt burrowing claws ; 

 and between these a web extends, even beyond their extremities. 

 This web can be folded back by the animal at pleasure ; and it 

 consequently presents no impediment in the act of burrowing. 

 The hind-feet are smaller and less powerful than the anterior ; 

 they, too, have five toes, armed with claws, and furnished with a 

 web ; but the web does not extend beyond the roots of the claws. 

 The hind-feet are directed backwards, like those of the Seal ; and 

 they are obviously used chiefly for swimming. The foot of the 

 male is armed with a sharp spur, resembling that of a Cock. 

 It does not appear, however, to be used by the animal as a weapon 

 of defence. It was formerly supposed (but incorrectly) to secrete 

 a poisonous fluid. A rudiment of it is present in the female. 

 The body of the Ornithorhyncus is long and flattened, a ad is 

 covered with a very glossy, closely-set fur, resembling that of the 

 Mole ; beneath this is a layer of soft, short, waterproof wadding. 

 The tail is strong, broad, flattened, and of moderate length ; it is 

 covered above with longer and coarser hairs than those of the 

 body, but its under-surface is nearly naked. The length of the 

 whole animal, from the front edge of its beak to the tip of its 

 tail, is usually from 20 to 23 inches. 



318. The whole structure of this singular animal proclaims 

 its aquatic habits ; and these are very much what we might 

 expect. It passes a great part of its time in the water, and in 

 the mud of oozy banks ; and seeks for the insects, small shell- 

 fish. &c., on which it feeds, by plunging its bill into the mud, 

 exactly in the manner of a Duck. It appears, that, when these 

 are scarce, it will eat water-weeds, such having been found in 



