78 NATURAL HISTORY. 
the daytime inert in branches and hollows of trees, but 
prowls at night in search of its food, which consists of 
insects, birds, eggs, fruits, etc. It makes great use of its 
tail in climbing, being able to swing by it from one branch 
to another. When attacked it feigns death, and so well 
that even dogs are deceived. This is the origin of the 
common phrase, “ playing *possum.” 
133. There are two very singular animals in Australia, 
about the classification of which there -has been some dif- 
ference of opinion. By some they have been placed in 
this order, on account of some resemblance in the skele- 
ton, although they have not any marsupium. ‘The first 
is the Duck-billed Platypus, Fig.67. This singular ani- 
Fig. 67.—Duck-billed Platypus. 
mal has a body like that of an Otter, and a bill like that 
of a Duck. It was first made known to British natural- 
ists by a stuffed specimen, and it was at once suspected 
that the bill of some Australian bird had been ingeniously 
fastened to the head of a quadruped. But it was found 
to be no deception, and this animal presents the strongest 
example that we have of an approach in the Mammal 
tribe to that of birds. It uses its bill precisely as the 
Duck does, searching for insects, small shell-fish, ete., by 
plunging it here and there in the mud. There is a curi- 
ous provision in the young to prevent the bill from inter- 
fering with the operation of suckling. It is very soft, 
