THE DUCK-BILL. 223 
presents a very different aspect, being soft, rounded, and of a pinky hue at 
its tip, mottled with a number of little spots. Dr. Bennett, to whom the 
zoological world is so much indebted for his researches into the habits of this 
curious animal, kindly showed me some excellent drawings, which, gave a 
very different idea of the animal from that which is obtained by the examin- 
ation of stuffed skins. The beak is well supplied with nerves, and appears to 
be a sensitive organ of touch, by means of which the animal is enabled to feel 
as well as to smell the insects and other creatures on which it feeds. : 
The Mullingong is an essentially aquatic and burrowing animal, and is 
formed expressly for its residence in the water or under the earth. The 
fur is thick and soft, and is readily dried while the animal enjoys good 
health, although it becomes wet and draggled when the creature is 
weakly. The opening of the ears is small and can be closed at will, and 
the feet are furnished with large and complete webs, extending beyond the 
claws in the fore limbs, and to their base in the hind legs. The fore-feet 
are employed for digging as well as for swimming, and are therefore armed’ 
PORCUPINE ANT-EATER, OR ECHIDNA.—(Echidnua Hystrix.) 
with powerful claws rather more than half an inch in length, and rounded as 
their extremities. With such force can these natural tools be used, that the 
Duck-bill has been seen to make a burrow two feet in length through hard 
gravelly soil in the space of ten minutes. While digging, the animal employs 
its beak as well as its feet, and the webbed membrane contracts between the 
joints so as not to be seen. The hind-feet of the male are furnished with a 
spur, about an inch in length, curved, perforated, and connected with a gland 
situated near the ankle. It was once supposed that this spur conveyed a 
poisonous liquid into the wound which it made, but this opinion has been 
disproved by Dr. Bennett, who frequently permitted, and even forced, the 
animal to wound him with its spurs, and experienced no ill consequences 
beyond the actual wound. The animal has the power of folding back 
the spur so as to conceal it entirely, and is then sometimes mistaken for 
a female. 
The colour of the adult animal is a soft dark brown, interspersed with a 
number of glistening points which are produced by the long and shining hairs 
which protrude through the inner fur. 
