THE DUCKBILL. 51 



turn the animal out of its course while engaged in digging 

 its subterranean home, and therefore that the shape of the 

 burrow may in some measure depend upon the character of the 

 ground. 



At the upper extremity of the burrow is placed the nest, an 

 excavation of a somewhat oval form, much broader than the 

 width of the burrow, and well supplied with dry weeds and 

 grasses, upon which the young may rest. They appear to 

 remain in these burrows until they have attained half their full 

 growth, for Dr. Bennett captured a pair of young Duckbills, ten 

 inches in length, which seemed not to have left the burrow. 

 Sometimes there are four young in one nest, and sometimes 

 there is only one, but the usual number is two. 



The Duckbill is a far more active animal than could be 

 conceived merely by looking at its form. It is very powerful in 

 proportion to its size ; so strong, indeed, that it cannot be held in 

 the hands without great difficulty, slipping through the grasp 

 almost as if it were oiled. The loosely-hanging integuments aid 

 it in this method of escape, and under them may be felt the 

 powerful subcutaneous muscles working with vast energy. It is 

 an admirable climber, not only in its wild state, but among 

 civilized objects. Dr. Bennett found that a pair of tame Duck- 

 bills, which he kept for some time, were in the habit of clamber- 

 ing to the tops of bookshelves and other articles of furniture, 

 achieving this feat by a process similar to that which is employed 

 by chimney-sweepers, and those whose business calls upon them 

 to ascend narrow perpendicular passages, namely, by placing 

 their backs against the wall and their feet against the bookcase, 

 and so working their way upwards, in a strictly vermicular 

 fashion. 



I remember that during my childhood I was frequently found 

 upon the roof of a stable by my parents, who could not conceive 

 the method by which so small a boy could have reached so great 

 an altitude. The fact was, that a summer-house had been built 

 within a foot or two of the stable-wall, so that by means of 

 placing my feet against one wall and my back against the other, 

 I was soon deposited on the roof of the summer-house. A jump 

 and a clutch then transferred me to the stable-roo^ where the 

 grapes grew; whereby was manifested the practical advantage of 

 watching the climbing boys ascend the chimney. 



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