APPEARANCE AND HABITS OF THE DUCK-BILL 197 
This animal is about as large as a prairie-“dog,”’ and its 
body is similarly shaped; but there the resemblance ends 
abruptly. Its front feet are webbed quite beyond the ends 
of the toes, and in digging, the outer edge of the web is rolled 
back underneath the foot, to expose the claws. The hind 
THE PLATYPUS, OR DUCK-BILL. 
feet are webbed only to the base of the claws, and each is 
provided with a strong, sharp spur an inch long, which is 
said to be connected with a poison gland. 
The tail is broad and flattened, well haired on the upper 
side and almost naked below. The hair of the Platypus is 
dark brown in color. The outer coat is stiff and harsh out- 
side, but the inner is fine and soft. The length of head and 
body is 13 inches; tail, 5 inches. 
The habits of the Duck-Bill are very similar to those of 
our old friend the muskrat. It mhabits quiet but deep pools 
of fresh water, burrows deeply into ‘the banks and is seldom 
seen save at nightfall. In its burrow it builds a nest for its 
