ZOOLOGY. 



Ad venture Bay, at Van Diemen's Land, and is supposed to 

 be closely allied to the above in its external and internal 

 habits. The chief difference consists in the tail being much 

 shorter, and the nose much more taper (but still resembling 

 a Duck's bill) and the body covered with a brown coat of 

 thick hair interspersed thinly with blunt quills. It was 17 

 inches long and walked about two inches from the ground. 

 The above description agrees with an accurate drawing 

 made upon the spot at the time, and brought over to England, 

 by an eminent Naturalist. These two animals have been 

 considered by Dr. Shaw, as having a very great analogy 

 to the Myrmecophaga or Ant-Eater, which it resembles in 

 the circumstance of being without teeth, but the feet cer- 

 tainly are very different, as also its ears, which consist 

 merely of open uncovered foramina, and are placed directly 

 behind the eyes. The feet of the Ant- Eater have separate 

 claws, but those of the Platypus are united by a strong mem- 

 brane, the distinguishing character of all animals which 

 reside much in the water. 



The back of the Platypus is covered all over with 

 thick and close hair of a dark brown colour, much resem- 

 bling that of a young Otter, but though obliged to walk 

 very awkwardly upon land by means of the shortness of 

 his legs, yet there is no doubt but that in the rivers, he can 

 make a more rapid progress. 



It is an observation which has not escaped the regard 

 of those Naturalists Avho have described the creatures of 

 New Holland, that all the quadrupeds hitherto discovered 

 in that extensive region arc void of symmetry in form and 

 beauty of colours, whilst in the feather'd tribes, and in the 

 vegetable kingdom the greatest profusion of beauty prevails. 

 No beasts of prey have hitherto been discovered, a few 

 species of the Racoon, Opossum and Kangaroo being al[ 



