232 DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 



and which verifies in a most striking manner the 

 observation of Buffon, viz. that whatever was pos- 

 sible for Nature to produce, has actually been 

 produced. 



On a subject so extraordinary as the present, a 

 degree of scepticism is not only pardonable, but 

 laudable; and I ought perhaps to acknowledge 

 that I almost doubt the testimony of my own eyes 

 with respect to the structure of this animal's 

 beak ; yet must confess that I can perceive no ap- 

 pearance of any deceptive preparation ; and the 

 edges of the rictus, the insertion, &c. when tried 

 by the test of maceration in water, so as to ren- 

 der every part completely moveable, seem perfectly 

 natural; nor can the most accurate examination 

 of expert anatomists discover any deception in 

 this particular. 



The Platypus is a native of Australasia or New 

 Holland. ^ 



