66 Personal Observations in the 
provides this appanage is at present unknown, though I am 
inclined to think that it is intended as a means of defence 
against attack. Be this as it may, however, the natives 
entertain a strong prejudice against touching a platypus, 
though they are not ready to state the reason of their 
apprehensions. . ; 
These animals frequent the quiet waterholes of the creeks 
and rivers, and are easily detected in the water by the circles 
and eddies which are formed around them. “On the slightest 
alarm,” says Waterhouse, “they instantly disappear, and 
Indeed they seldom remain longer on the surface than one or 
two minutes, but dive head foremosé with an audible splash, 
re-appearing, if not alarmed, a short distance from the spot 
at which they dived. Their action is so rapid, and their 
sense of danger so lively, that the mere act of levelling the 
gun is sufficient to cause their instant disappearance; and it 
is, consequently, only by watching them when diving, and 
levelling the piece in a direction towards the spot at which 
they seem likely to re-appear, that a fair shot at them can 
be obtained. A near shot is absolutely requisite ; and when 
wounded they usually sink immediately, but quickly re-appear 
on the surface.” The burrows which the platypus makes are 
very extensive, from twenty to fifty feet in length; its 
entrance is invariably close to the water's edge, and its other 
extremity terminates in a capacious chamber, sufficiently large 
for the residence both of the adults and young. . 
Porcupine.—This extraordinary animal, which somewhat - 
resembles a hedgehog, but like the platypus is distinguished 
by a long and slender bill, like that of a duck, is nowhere 
observable during the winter months, but makes its appearance 
‘on the higher ranges in September. The skin of the porcu- 
pine is double, the outer one being covered with the fur, 
while the pines are inserted in the lower skin, which is very 
muscular and fully half an inch thick. Between this and 
the flesh is a layer of fat. Like the platypus, the hind foot 
of the echidna is provided with a powerful horny spur, evi- 
dently intended by nature as a weapon of defence. ‘The 
facility and the rapidity with which this animal burrows is 
truly astonishing, its powerful claws, beak-like snout, and 
even the spines of its back being brought into requisition. 
Flinders relates that his dogs having discovered a porcupine 
anteater were quite unable to produce any impression upon 
it, and he escaped, “by burrowing in the loose sand—not 
head foremost, but by sinking himself directly downwards ; 
a 
