7S LECTURE III. 



somewhat smaller than the present, with shorter 

 spines, and of a whitish colour. 



We now arrive at a genus of quadrupeds of so 

 very extraordinary a nature, as to surpass in sin- 

 gularity every other that has hitherto been dis- 

 covered. This genus, which at present consists 

 but of a single species and its supposed varieties, 

 is distinguished by the title of Platypus or Orni- 

 thorliynchus ; the former name having been given 

 it on account of the very expanded webs of its 

 fore-feet, and the latter from the appearance of 

 the snout, which has the resemblance of the bill 

 of a bird. Its English generic name of Duckbill 

 is that by which it is commonly known. If we 

 rank this animal according to the Linnasan ar- 

 rangement of quadrupeds, it must of necessity 

 belong to the order Bruta, being destitute of teeth j 

 but if we rank it according to its general habit or 

 appearance, it might find a place among the Seals 

 and other web-footed quadrupeds. The fact how- 

 ever is, that it may be questioned whether it really 

 and properly belongs to the tribe of Mammalia or 

 not^ since no examination hitherto made, of such 

 specimens as have been brought over, preserved 



