£32 DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS. 
and which verifies in a most striking manner the 
observation of BufFon, viz. that whatever was pos- 
sible for Nature to prockice, 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. 
