66 



Personal Observations in the 



provides this appanage is at present unknown, though I am 

 inclined to think that it is intended as a means of defence 

 against attack. Be this as it may, however, the natives 

 entertain a strong prejudice against touching a platypus, 

 though they are not ready to state the reason of their 

 apprehensions. 



These animals frequent the quiet waterholes of the creeks 

 and rivers, and are easily detected in the water by the circles 

 and eddies which are formed around them. "On the slightest 

 alarm,'' says Waterhouse, "they instantly disappear, and 

 indeed they seldom remain longer on the surface than one or 

 two minutes, but dive head foremost with an audible splash, 

 re-appearing, if not alarmed, a short distance from the spot 

 at which they dived. Their action is so rapid, and their 

 sense of danger so lively, that the mere act of levelling the 

 gun is sufficient to cause their instant disappearance; and it 

 is, consequently, only by watching them when diving, and 

 levelling the piece in a direction towards the spot at which 

 they seem likely to re-appear, that a fair shot at them can 

 be obtained. A near shot is absolutely requisite ; and when 

 wounded they usually sink immediately, but quickly re-appear 

 on the surface." The burrows which the platypus makes are 

 very extensive, from twenty to fifty feet in length ; its 

 entrance is invariably close to the water's edge, and its other 

 extremity terminates in a capacious chamber, sufficiently large 

 for the residence both of the adults and young. 



Poi *cupine, — This extraordinary animal, which somewhat 

 resembles a hedgehog, but like the platypus is distinguished 

 by a long and slender bill, like that of a duck, is nowhere 

 observable during the winter months, but makes its appearance 

 on the higher ranges in September. The skin of the porcu- 

 pine is double, the outer one being covered with the fur, 

 while the pines are inserted in the lower skin, which is very 

 muscular and fully half an inch thick. Between this and 

 the flesh is a layer of fat. Like the platypus, the hind foot 

 of the echidna is provided with a powerful horny spur, evi- 

 dently intended by nature as a weapon of defence. The 

 facility and the rapidity with which this animal burrows is 

 truly astonishing, its powerful claws, beak-like snout, and 

 €ven the spines of its back being brought into requisition, 

 Fhnders relates that his dogs having discovered a porcupine 

 anteater were quite unable to produce any impression upon 

 it, and he escaped, " by burrowing in the loose sand — not 

 head foremost, but by sinking himself directly downwards ; 



