'7970 OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 425 



talogue of animals that were known at this time ; with the exception 

 which muft now be made of an amphibious animal, of the mole fpecies, 

 one of which had lately been found on the banks of a lake near the 

 Hawkefbury. In fize it was confiderably larger than the land mole. 

 The eyes were very fmall. The fore legs, which were fhorter than 

 the hind, were obferved, at the feet, to be provided with four claws, 

 and a membrane, or web, that fpread confiderably beyond them ; while 

 the feet of the hind legs were furnilhed, not only with this mem- 

 brane, or web, but with four long fharp claws, that proje&ed as much 

 beyond the web, as the web projected beyond the claws of the fore 

 feet. The tail of this animal was thick, abort, and very fat ; but the 

 mod extraordinary circumftance obferved in its firuciure was, its 

 having, inftead of the mouth of an animal, the upper and lower man- 

 dibles of a duck. By thefe it was enabled to fupply itfelf with food, 

 like that bird, in muddy places, or on the banks of the lakes, in which 

 its webbed feet enabled it to fwim ; while on more its long and fharp 

 claws were employed in burrowing : nature thus providing for it in 

 its double or amphibious character. Thefe little animals had been 

 frequently noticed rifmg to the furface of the water, and blowing like 

 the turtle*. 



The 



* The peculiar conformation of the amphibious animal above mentioned having attracted the 

 attention of Everard Home, Efq. a Paper, containing the refult of a minute examination of the 

 external and internal parts of two fpecimens which had been preferved in fpirits, and fent from 

 Port Jackfon to Sir Jofeph Banks, was drawn up b'y Mr. Home, and having been read before 

 the Royal Society was afterwards publifhedin the Philofophical TranfacU'ons. From that paper, 

 which was molt obligingly fent to the Author of this work by Mr. Home, he has, through the 

 liberality of the Prefident of that learned body, been allowed to felect fudi additional particu- 

 lars of this curious animal, as will, he trufts, be acceptable to his readers ; who, he doubts not, 

 will derive gratification from an animal, hitherto unkuown to fcience, having fallen under the 

 obfervatton and examination of a gentleman fo eminently qualified to develope the fecrets of 

 nature. 



The natural hiflory of this animal, which has obtained the name of Ornithorh ynchus Pa- 

 radoxus, is at prefent very little known. The following particulars were communicated to 

 Mr. Home by Governor Hunter, who, during his refidence in New South Wales, had opportu- 

 nities of feeing the animal alive. 



3 I The 



