NATURAL HISTORY. 



189 



Sub-family d. Ornithorhynchina. 

 ORNITHORHYNCUS. (Gr. Opvie, a bird; fivyx ^ a snout.) 



Paradoxus (Lat. puzzling}, the Duck-billed Platypus. 



Mr. Bennet attempted to rear some young ORNITHORYNCHI 

 at Sydney, but they died in a short time. They were very 

 fond of climbing between a press and the wall, placing their 

 backs against the press and their feet against the wall. They 

 used to dress their fur with their beak and feet, just as a duck 

 prunes its feathers. 



The male has a spur on its hind feet. 



SKULL, OF THE PLATYPUS. 



