^30 DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 
might be mistaken for such : round the base is 
a flat^ circular membrane^ somewhat deeper or 
wider below than above, viz. below near the fifth 
of an inch, and above about an eighth. The tail 
is flat, furry like tlie body, rather short, and ob- 
tuse, with an almost bifid termination : it is broader 
at the base, and gradually lessens to the tip, and 
is about three inches in length : its colour is simi- 
lar to that of the body. The length of the whole 
animal from the tip of the beak to that of the tail 
is thirteen inches : of the beak an inch and half. 
The legs are very short, terminating in a broad 
web, which on the fore feet extends to a consider- 
able distance beyond the claws ; but on the hind 
feet reaches no farther than the roots of tlie claws. 
On the fore feet are five claws, strait, strong, and 
sharp-pointed: the two exterior ones somewhat 
shorter than the three middle ones. On the hind 
feet are six claws, longer and more inclining to a 
curved form than those on the fore feet : the ex- 
terior toe and claw are considerably shorter than 
the four middle ones : the interior or sixth is seat- 
ed much higher up than the rest, and resembles 
a strong, sharp spur. All the legs are hairy 
above : the fore feet are naked both above and 
below; but the hind feet are hairy above, and 
naked below. The internal edges of the under 
mandible (which is narrower than the upper) are 
serrated or channeled with numerous striae, as in 
a duck's bill. The nostrils are small and round, 
and are situated about a quarter of an inch from 
the tip of the bill, and are about the eighth of an 
