THE DUCKBILL. 



47 



Some scientific naturalists have called it the Omithorhynchus 

 ■paradoocus ; others have given it the name of Platypus anatinus 

 — the former title being to my mind by far the more appropriate 

 and expressive of the two. The natives of Australia have several 

 names for tliis remarkable animal ; some calling it Mallangong, 

 others Tambreet, and others Tohunbuck — the second of these 

 titles being most generally in use. 



MALLANGONG OR DUCKBILL 



Until Dr. Bennett prosecuted his well-known researches iu 

 Australia, no European knew precisely whether the Duckbill 

 was a burrower, or, indeed, whether it had a home of any kind. 

 The natives were well aware of the fact that the animal dug 

 tunnels into the ground, and showed great address in discovering 

 the burrows and unearthing the inmates. There, however, their 

 knowledge seemed to end. The only value of an animal to a 

 native Australian lies in its capability of being eaten, and the 

 only lore which an Australian troubles himself to acquire is the 

 knowledge of the habits of the animal with reference to catchin" 



