150 



have been brought from the Swan River ; an interesting circum- 

 stance, since it shows that some^ at least, of the species common to 

 the eastern shores are found equally upon the opposite coaSt. 



" This species is about the size of a small Rabbit, with a larger 

 head, and comparatively shorter tail and legs, than are generally 

 found among other Saltigrade Marsupial animals. It has a small 

 muzzle; round naked ears like those of a Rat, but almost concealed 

 in the long shaggy fur which surrounds them; a tail not quite two 

 thirds the length of the body, of a dark scaly appearance, spa- 

 ringly provided with a few coarse black hairs. The legs and feet 

 are also dark, and covered with very short coarse hair. All the 

 upper parts, the head, neck, shoulders, back and loins, are co- 

 vered with long shaggy hair, of a rude bristly quality and a dark 

 ashy-brown colour, thinly interspersed with single hairs of a light 

 bay or sandy gray colour. Beneath, on the cliin, breast, and belly, 

 the fur is of a very fine close quality, and of a uniform light ashy- 

 brown colour; and it is to be observed, that a thick coat of the 

 same fine fur is found beneath the coarse hair upon the upper sur- 

 face of the body." 



ORNiTHOUHrNCHUs BREViRosTRis. Om. rostro hrevi ; vellere 

 densissimo, supra fusco-rufo, infra alhescente. 



"At first sight this animal might be regarded as identical with 

 Orn. rii.fns, which it closely resembles in the quality and fineness 

 of the fur, as well as in the general colour of the body ; but a 

 careful comparison of these circumstances, and particularly of the 

 proportions of the bill and other parts, is sufficient to establish the 

 specific difference of these two animals. The fur of the new spe- 

 cies is thickly furnished, rather longer, and of a softer quality than 

 in the other Ornithorhi/ncln, and presents something of a shining or 

 metallic lustre when rubbed smoothly down with the hand. It is 

 of a uniform dark vinous red colour on the upper parts of the body, 

 and of a silvery white beneath ; the head is dark brown ; and the feet 

 are light gray. But the peculiar character of Orn. brevirostris is 

 found in the bill, which is very nearly as broad as it is long, whilst 

 in the other species the length of this organ is at least double its 

 breadth. In other respects its characters, as far as they can be 

 ascertained at present, agree with those of its congeners. The bill 

 is of a very dark colour, approaching almost to black; the skin 

 remarkably thick for so small an animal. The following are its 

 principal dimensions : — 



ft. in. 

 Length from the base of the bill to the origin of the tail, , 1 



" of the tail 3^ 



of the bill \\ 



Breadth of the bill 1^" 



Stuffed specimens of Or«. rufus and Orn.fuscus having been placed 

 on the table, the distinctions between these and Orn. brevirostris 

 were pointed out by Mr. Ogilby. 



About thirty Bird-skins, collected during the last summer in Shet- 



