222 THE DUCK-BILL. 
The Little Ant-eater is a native of tropical America, and is always to be 
found on trees, where it generally takes up its residence, and where it finds 
its sustenance. It possesses many squirrel-like customs, using its fore-claws 
with great dexterity, and hooking the smaller insects out of the bark crevices 
in which they have taken unavailing refuge. While thus employed it sits 
upon its hind limbs, supporting itself with its prehensile tail. The claws are 
compressed, curved, and very sharp, and the little animal can use these 
instruments with some force as offensive weapons, and can strike smart blows 
with them. It is a bold little creature, attacking the nests of wasps, putting 
its little paw into the combs, and dragging the grubs from their cells. 
Like its larger relations, it is nocturnal in its habits, and sleeps during the 
day with its tail safely twisted round the branch on which it sits. The generic 
name, Cyclothurus, signifies “twisted tail,’ and is very appropriate to the 
animal. 
THERE are few animals which have attracted such universal attention, both 
from scientific men and the reading world in general, as the MULLINGONG, 
DUCK-BILL, or PLATYPUS, of Australia. This little creature, the largest 
being but twenty-two inches in length, has excited more interest than animals 
DUCK-BILL, OR MULLINGONG. —(Platypus Anatinus.) 
of athousand times its dimensions, on account of its extraordinary shape and 
singular habits. It is most appropriately called the Duck-bill, on account of 
the curious development of the intermaxillary bones, which are very much 
flattened and elongated, and their ends turned inwards in a kind of angular 
hook. The lower jaw is also lengthened and flattened, although not to such 
an extent as the upper, and the bones are covered with a naked skin. 
Tn the stuffed and dried specimens the “beak” appears as if it were com- 
pose.| of the black leather taken from an old shoe, but in the living animal it 
