1HE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 



231 



The Water Moles are said to have a peculiarly fishy smell, more especially when wet, which pro- 

 bably proceeds from an oily secretion. They are used by the aborigines for food ; " but it is no 

 particular recommendation of them," Mr. Bennett remarks, " to say they are eaten by the native 

 Australian, as nothing in the shape of provender comes amiss to him, whether it be Snakes, Rats, 

 Frogs, Grubs, or the more delicate Opossum, Bandicoot, and Flying Squirrel." 



The Ornithorhynchus is captured by the natives when in its burrow. They first examine the 

 neighbourhood of the burrow, to ascertain, by the presence of recent footmarks on the soil, whether it 

 is inhabited, and if the examination proves satisfactory, they proceed to dig holes with pieces of 

 sticks from the surface of the ground into the burrow, at distances from each other, until they dis- 

 cover its termination, when the Australians consider themselves exceedingly fortunate should they find 

 the young, since they are regarded as a great delicacy. 



The young have been found in their nests by Mr. Bennett about one inch and seven-eighths in 

 length, in the early part of December, and near the end of the same month he found young Water 

 Moles of ten inches in length. These latter were kept alive for nearly five weeks, and their habits 

 whilst in captivity are described in detail in his paper, which is illustrated by some admirable figures, 

 .showing their various attitudes, &c. The young were allowed to run about the room ; but an old Orni- 

 thorhynchus in the possession of our author was so restless, and damaged the walls of the room so 

 much by her attempts at burrowing, that it was found necessary to confine her to the box. " During 

 the day she would remain quiet, huddled up with her young ones ; but at night she became very 

 i-estless, and eager to escape. The little ones were as frolicsome as puppies, and apparently as fond 

 of play ; and many of their actions were not a little ludicrous. During the day they seemed to prefer 

 si dark corner for repose, and generally resorted to the spot to which they had been accustomed, although 

 they would change it on a sudden, apparently from mere caprice. They did not appear to like deep 

 \vater, but enjoyed exceedingly a bathe in shallow water, with a turf of grass placed in one corner of 

 the pan ; they seldom remained longer than ten or fifteen minutes in the water at one time. Though 

 apparently nocturnal, or at least preferring the cool and dusky evening to the glare and heat of noon, 

 their movements in this respect were so irregular as to furnish no grounds for a definite conclusion. 

 They slept much ; and it frequently happened that one slept whilst the other was running about ; 

 and this occurred at almost all periods of the day. They climbed with great readiness to the summit 

 of a book-case, and thus, by means of their strong cutaneous muscles and of their claws, mounting 

 with much expedition to the top. Their food consisted of bread soaked in water, chopped eggs, and 

 meat minced very small, and they did not seem to prefer milk to water." 



Mr. Foulerton states that the natives are seldom successful in catching the Water Moles alive, 

 although in some places in the rivers and creeks of New England they are so numerous that from 

 iifteen to eighteen have been shot in an afternoon. In the dark, rocky, shady rivers they may be 

 seen at any time of the day, but in more open places seldom before sunset. He failed to see any young 

 ones, and believes that they keep them concealed until near their maturity. They are very active in 

 the water, and are more frequently under than above the surface. He never saw one leave the water, 

 and states that they made very poor progress on land. As 

 a, rule they are to be found in good fellowship with the 

 Australian Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster). 



The young Water Moles are naked, and have a short 

 beak with fleshy and smooth edges, and this conformation 

 enables them to seize the space on the mother whence 

 the milk comes, for there are no nipples. Their tongue 

 is large and assists in the sucking also. 



The most curious feature in the Ornithorhynchus is 

 the snout in the form of a beak. This is flat and broadest 

 in front where it is rounded. It is hard, and is covered 

 with a skin full of pores, and on each side this skin 

 overlaps the sides to form a kind of fringe or flexible 

 cheek, and this free membrane is carried round the front. Where this skin comes to the head, it 

 forms a wide fold, which flaps over the front of the head and throat, and is a capital protection 



JAWS OF THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 

 (After Waterhouse.) 



(Al Upper, (B) Lower Jaw: la) Molar Teeth ; (6) Narrow Anterior 

 Teeth: (c) Tongue: !<> Integument projecting from Jaw, 

 (e) Transverse Hidges on Covering of Beak. 



