THE PLATYPUS 399 



are gradually worn away by this, and the permanent horny teeth 

 gradually grow up round and replace them. Much sand is taken in 

 as well as food, after the manner of birds. 



The home of the Platypus is a burrow, dug by the beast itself, for 

 it is an excellent burrower as well as a good swimmer ; the tunnel 

 may be as much as twenty feet long, and has two entrances, one 

 under the water, and one a foot or more from it. At the end of the 

 hole is to be found an enlarged chamber which is lined with dry 

 weed. It is here that the young ones are deposited when old enough 

 to be left by the mother for a time, and it is believed that the eggs, 

 which are two in number, yellowish, and flexible-shelled like a Snake's, 

 are deposited also in the burrow, for the female Platypus does not 

 develop a nursing-pouch like the Echidna. She resembles that animal, 

 however, in having no teats, the milk exuding upon the surface of the 

 skin. The young have short bills, adapted for sucking it up; and 

 when first born they are blind and naked. 



The Platypus is known to the Australian blacks by the names of 

 Mullingong and Tambreet ; they eat it, especially esteeming the young 

 ones, the sight of a plump young Platypus fairly making a "black- 

 fellow's " mouth water, The colonists, by whom the beast is known 

 as " Duckbill " and " Water-Mole," used to use the fur for rugs, and 

 I am sorry to say sometimes do so still, although this most interest- 

 ing and harmless animal is very properly protected by law. Such an 

 animal as this would be a most desirable exhibit in any Zoological 

 Garden, but so far it has not been brought to Europe alive. Even 

 the Australian Zoological Gardens do not exhibit it ; but this is not 

 surprising, as there seems to be at present but little knowledge of the 

 management of delicate animals at the Antipodes. 



Delicate the Platypus certainly is, compared to its relative the 

 Echidna ; but it has been successfully kept in captivity in Australia 

 for some weeks, and even taken some distance on the homeward 

 journey. 



Dr. Bennett, in his Wanderings of a Naturalist, gives a very in- 

 teresting account of a couple of young specimens which he kept for 



