361 



ON THE 



we can persuade ourselves, of its being the beak 

 or snout of a quadruped." 



"The body is depressed, and has some resem- 

 blance to the Otter in miniature ; it is covered 

 with a very thick, soft, and beaver-like fur, and 

 is of a moderately dark brown above, and of a 

 subferrugenous white beneath. The head is 

 flattish and rather small than large ; the mouth 

 or snout, as before observed, so exactly resem- 

 bles that of some broad-billed species of Duck, 

 that it might be mistaken for such. Round the 

 base is a flat circular membrane somewhat deep- 

 er or wider below than above ; below, near the 

 fifth of an inch ; and above, about one eighth. 

 The tail is flat, furry like the body, rather short 

 and obtuse, with an almost biped termination; 

 it is broader at the base, and gradually lessens 

 at the top, and is about three inches in length ; 

 its colour is similar to that of its body. The 

 length of the whole animal, from the top of the 

 beak to that of the tail, is thirteen inches ; of the 

 bea, an inch and a half. The legs are very 

 short, terminating in a broad web ; which, in the 

 fore feet, extends to a considerable distance be- 

 yond the claws. On the fore feet are five claws, 

 straight, short, and sharp pointed ; the two ex- 

 terior ones, somewhat shorter than the three 

 middle ones. On the hind teet are six claws, 

 longer and more inclined to a curved form than 

 those of the fore feet. The exterior toe and 



