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the water into the gullet, and to direct the former into the tempo- 

 rary receptacles — the cheek pouches, which have an opening on each 

 side at the back part of the mouth. In these I have found the food 

 well comminuted, mingled with fine gravel of a muddy consistence, 

 the food consisting of debris of insects and small shell-fish mingled 

 with mud and gravel to aid digestion, and I have also found the whole 

 length of the alimentary canal filled with mud or sand mingled with 

 debris of food. I have observed the same in the Echidna or c Por- 

 cupine Ant-eater ' of the colonists. In the stomach of that animal 

 I have found the sand which filled it exhibit under the microscope 

 the remains of ants alone. The sand appears to me to be neces- 

 sary for the proper digestion of the food in both animals. 



On the morning of the 28th of December, 1858, I received a male 

 and female specimen of the Ornithorhynchus alive ; the male very 

 large, and the female much smaller ; they had been captured four 

 days before the opportunity occurred of sending them. They were 

 packed in a box with straw, carefully and securely fastened down : 

 they had burrowed into the straw, and seemed warm and com- 

 fortable. When taken out and placed into a tub of water, they 

 were very lively, diving down and remaining out of sight ; and were 

 so timid, that, when reappearing, it was only to place the end of 

 the mandibles out of the water to inhale some fresh air, when they 

 would speedily disappear again, seeming to be perfectly aware they 

 were watched. The longest time this animal could remain under 

 water, without rising to the surface to breathe, was full 7 minutes 

 15 seconds, by the watch. I placed them in the evening in a tub of 

 water with turf and grass ; they remained quite tranquil, bubbles of 

 air rising occasionally to the surface of the water alone indicating 

 their position, with a movement as if they were shifting their place 

 in the tub, but without showing the body. After some minutes had 

 elapsed, the tip of the black snout would appear on the side of the 

 tub, to the length of about an inch, or just sufficient for the nostrils 

 to be above the surface of the water, they being at the same time 

 dilated as if to imbibe a supply of atmospheric air. They would only 

 remain a few seconds, when they again speedily disappeared. When 

 watched at a distance, one was seen to crawl out from the tub and 

 escape upon the ground, but it was speedily captured and replaced. 

 After leaving them in the water for about an hour, I placed my hand 

 in the tub and took them out, and, on replacing them in the box, 

 they soon burrowed down in the straw. 



They are, as may be expeeted, fond of darkness and concealment, 

 and dive under water or burrow under ground, coming to the surface 

 to feed and enjoy themselves, principally at the dusk of the evening 

 or at night. 



I do not believe that the Duck-bill has ever been found in South 

 Australia, no specimen having yet been brought from that locality. 



These animals are rather crepuscular in their habits, sleeping for 

 the most part of the day ; and, in captivity, I have always found them 

 very annoying at night, disturbing the rest of every one within 

 hearing by the scratching and restless noises which they make in 



