Quadrupeds, 6915 



Notes on the Duckbill. By George Bennett, Esq., F.Z.S., &c.* 



On the morning of the 28th of December, 1858, 1 received a male 

 and female specimen of the Ornithorynchus, alive ; the male very 

 large, and the female much smaller ; they had been captured four 

 days before the opportunity occurred of sending them. They were 

 packed in a box with straw, carefully and securely fastened down ; 

 they had burrowed into the straw, and seemed warm and comfortable. 

 When taken out and placed in a tub of water, they were very lively, 

 diving down and remaining out of sight ; and were so timid that 

 when reappearing it was only to place the end of the mandibles out 

 of the water to inhale some fresh air, when they would speedily dis- 

 appear again, seeming to be perfectly aware they were watched. The 

 longest time this animal could remain under water, without rising to 

 the surface to breathe, was full 7 minutes 15 seconds, by the watch. 

 I placed them in the evening in a tub of water with turf and grass ; 

 they remained quite tranquil, bubbles of air rising occasionally to the 

 surface of the water alone indicating their position, with a movement 

 as if they were shifting their place in the tub, but without showing 

 the body. After some minutes had elapsed, the tip of the black snout 

 would appear on the side of the tub, to the length of about an inch, 

 or just sufficient for the nostrils to be above the surface of the water, 

 they being at the same dilated as if to imbibe a supply of atmospheric 

 air. They would only remain a few seconds, when they again 

 speedily disappeared. When watched at a distance, one was seen to 

 crawl out from the tub and escape upon the ground, but it was 

 speedily captured and replaced. After leaving them in the water for 

 about an hour, I placed my hand in the tub and took them out, and 

 on replacing them in the box they soon burrowed down in the straw. 



They are, as may be expected, fond of darkness and concealment, 

 and dive under water or burrow under ground, coming to the surface 

 to feed and enjoy themselves, principally at the dusk of the evening 

 or at night. 



I do not believe that the duckbill has ever been found in South 

 Australia, no specimen having yet been brought from that locality. 



These animals are rather crepuscular in their habits, sleeping for 

 the most part of the day ; and in captivity I have always found them 

 very annoying at night, disturbing the rest of every one within 

 hearing, by the scratching and restless noises which they make in 



* From the * Proceedings of the Zoological Society.' 



