230 NATURAL R1S>TORY. 



suckle their young the most like a bird, and it really deserves the title, from its external appearance 

 of half beast, half bird. As its shape and method of life are peculiar, it has received several names,, 

 such as the Water Mole, the Flat-footed, Duck-billed Platypus, the Bird-beaked quadruped, and 

 the Paradoxical Bird-beaked animal. It is very fond of the water and also of burrowing in the 

 ground, and, of course, is admirably adapted for these pursuits : hence its construction relates to> 

 them to a certain extent, and also to that of the animals of which it was, as it were, a contkmation in 

 the scheme of nature. 



The Ornithorhynchus anatinus has a rather flat body of about eighteen inches in length, and the 

 head and snout greatly resemble those of a Duck, whilst the tail is short, broad, and flat, and resembles, 

 that of a small Beaver, but is shorter. The feet are webbed and flat, and the greater part of the 

 creature is covered with a short dense fur of a diisky brown colour, darker on the upper and paler 

 on the under parts of the body. A slight examination of the habits of the animal will explain the- 

 necessity for observing it a little more closely. Mr. Bennett describes his first interview with 

 one shortly after his arrival in Australia. He writes : " We soon came to a tranqxiil part of 

 the river, such as the colonists call a ' pond,' on the surface of which numerous aquatic plants 

 grew. It is in places of this description that the Water Moles are most commonly seen, seeking 

 their food among the aquatic plants, whilst the steep and shaded banks afford them excellent 

 situations for excavating their burrows. We remained stationary on the banks, waiting their 

 appearance with some degree of impatience, and it was not long before my companion quietly directed 

 my attention to one of these animals, paddling on the surface of the water, not far distant 

 from the bank on which we were then standing. In such circumstances they may be readily recog- 

 nised by their dark bodies, just seen level with the surface, above which the head is slightly raised, 

 and by the circles made in the water round them by their paddling action. On seeing them, the 

 spectator must remain perfectly stationary, as the slightest noise or movement of his body would 

 cause their instant disappearance, so acute are they in sight or hearing, or perhaps both ; and 

 they seldom appear when they have been frightened." On ordinary occasions they do not remain, 

 more than a minute or two at a time on the surface of the water. 



A burrow of an Ornithorhynchus, which Mr. Bennett opened, had its entrance on a steep part of 

 a bank, situated about one foot from the water's edge, and concealed among the long grass and other 

 plants. " This burrow ran up the bank in a serpentine course, approaching nearer to the surface 

 of the earth towards its termination, at which part the nest is situated. No nest had yet been made 

 in the termination of the burrow, for that appears to be formed about the time of bringing forth 

 the young, and consists merely of dried grass, weeds, &c., strewed over the floor of this part of the 

 habitation." The expanded termination measured one foot in length and six inches in breadth, 

 and the whole length of the burrow was twenty feet. Besides the entrance before alluded to, it 

 appears there is usually a second opening into the burrows below the surface of the water, communi- 

 cating with the interior, just within the upper aperture. A burrow subsequently examined by Mr. 

 Bennett terminated at a distance of thirty-five feet from the entrance ; and that gentleman stated 

 that they have been found fifty feet in length. 



From the burrow first opened by Mr. Bennett a living female was taken, and placed in a cask, 

 with grass, mud, water, &c., and in this situation it soon became tranquil, and apparently reconciled 

 to its confinement. On his return home to Sydney, Mr. Bennett determined to indulge it with a 

 bathe ; and with this view, when he arrived in the vicinity of some ponds, he tied a long cord to 

 its leg. " When placed on the bank, it soon found its way into the water, and travelled up the stream, 

 apparently delighting in those places which most abounded in aquatic weeds. When diving in deep 

 and clear water, its motions were distinctly seen : it sank speedily to the bottom, swam there for 

 a short distance, and then rose again to the surface. It appeared, however, to prefer keeping close to 

 the bank, occasionally thrusting its beak into the mud, from whence it evidently procured food, as, on 

 raising the head, after withdrawing the beak, the mandibles were seen in lateral motion, as is 

 usual when the animal masticates. The motions of the mandibles were similar to those of a Duck 

 under the same circumstances. After feeding, it would lie sometimes on the grassy bank, and at 

 others partly in and partly out of the water, combing and cleaning its coat with the claws of the hind 

 feet. This process occupied a considerable time, and greatly improved its sleek and glossy appearance." 



