206 MONOTREMATOU8 WATER TRESPASSERS. 



best to get himself wounded, could not succeed even 

 in being scratched with the spur. This curious 

 instrument, by the way, almost exactly resembles 

 that of the game-cock, except that it is but loosely 

 attached, and is often kept folded back, so that it is 

 not visible unless specially sought for. 



As yet, none of these animals have been brought 

 in a living state to England. They are very delicate 

 in constitution, and, unless supplied with a proper diet, 

 invariably pine away and die. Various attempts have 

 been made, but all in vain. As far as is yet known, 

 molluscs chopped up very fine furnish the best food, 

 but the animal never seems to thrive unless it can 

 forage for itself in the inud. Probably, if some speci- 

 mens could only be got safely across the sea, they might 

 find sufficient nutriment in the ponds of the Zoological 

 Gardens, but at present the voyage has proved an in- 

 superable obstacle. 



The water-repelling property of the fur has already 

 been mentioned. It is a curious fact that this property 

 only exists as long as the animal is in health. This 

 was shown by the various Duckbills which have been 

 captured and kept alive. At first, while they were 

 plump and in good health, the water rolled off their fur 

 as soon as they left it, and they were almost immediately 

 dry ; but, when they began to fail in health, the fur 

 failed in proportion, became matted, and would not 

 dry. The mandibles also lost their round plumpness 

 and their beautiful pinky colour. 



It is rather interesting to note that even in the 

 Duckbill the sense of humour is to be found. Dr. 

 Bennett states that his pair of young Duckbills were as 



