THE ORNITHORHYNCHUS. 295 



that part of the web which projects beyond the end of the toes, 

 is loose, and can therefore fold back when the animal burrows, 

 and permit the strong blunt claws to come into operation j but 

 when the action of swimming is requisite, this accommodating 

 membrane spreads out and furnishes a most excellent paddle. 

 The male has a moveable spur upon the hind part of the inner 

 surface, and somewhat above the claws of the posterior legs. 

 The tail, in both sexes, is flat and broad, and varies in length 

 from four and a half to six inches -, the hair covering its upper 

 surface is longer and coarser than that of any other part of 

 the body, and projects a little distance beyond the end of the 

 tail itself. 



The ornithorhynchus seems to spend as much of its time 

 on the land as on the water j though its short legs and webbed 

 feet are better adapted for rowing through the latter element 

 than for carrying it over the surface of the former. Numbers 

 of its species frequent the rivers ; but they are so shy and timid, 

 that the spectator who would wish to watch them, "must," says 

 Mr. Bennett, " remain perfectly stationary, as the slightest 

 noise or movement of the body causes their instant disap- 

 pearance, so acute are they in sight or hearing, or perhaps 

 in both j and they seldom reappear when they have been 

 frightened. By remaining perfectly quiet when they are ' up/ 

 one may obtain an excellent view of their movements on the 

 water ; they seldom, however, remain longer than one or two 

 minutes playing and paddling on the surface, soon diving again 

 and reappearing a short distance above or below, generally 

 according to the direction in which they dive, which act they 

 perform head foremost, and with an audible splash." They 

 swim very low, so that the upper part of the back and the 

 head only are seen above the surface of the water; and when 

 their fur is wet, each resembles a mass of dirty weeds rather 

 than a living animal, and on which account they often escape 

 observation. 



They feed upon aquatic insects, small mollusks, and animal- 

 cules, and they generally obtain their food by inserting their 



