THE DUCKBILL. 205 



on the bank, and has completed its toilet as has already 

 been described, it would naturally prefer to walk into 

 its burrow without wetting itself, and being obliged to 

 repeat the operation. But, if it were pursued, or even 

 alarmed, it would dive, and so regain its home unseen. 



At the upper extremity of the burrow is the home. 

 This is always oval in form, and much larger than the 

 burrow itself. It is floored with dry weeds and similar 

 substances, and is a very comfortable residence. 

 Within this chamber the animal always sleeps, rolling 

 itself up into a ball like a hedgehog, and uttering little 

 angry growls if disturbed. In it the young ones are 

 born, and pass the first few months of their lives in safety 

 from any foe except man. Even white men, with all 

 their tools, find that to dig out a Duckbill when it has 

 taken refuge in its nest is no easy matter. The natives, 

 however, with no tools better than sharp sticks, can 

 beat the white man in digging, and, when once they 

 have made up their minds to secure the Duckbill, they 

 never fail to do so. The outer entrance to the burrow 

 is almost invariably concealed by grass or other foliage, 

 and is not easily found. 



Whether or not the remarkable spur with which 

 the hind foot of the male is armed has any connection 

 with its aquatic habits, is at present unknown, and, 

 indeed, the object of the spur is altogether a mystery. 

 It exists also in an allied animal, the echidna, or 

 porcupine ant-eater, of the same country, and is 

 in both animals thought to be armed with a poisonous 

 fluid. 



However, Dr. Bennett, after trying all kinds of 

 experiments on adult male Duckbills, and doing his 



