132 NEW SPECIES OF OUNITHOllY KCHUS. 
It will be seen, on comparing this description with those 
of the species hitherto known, that it differs specifically 
from all of them. It were needless to institute comparisons 
here, as any one who may feel interested in the subject can 
easily make them for himself. I shall only observe, that 
the ordinary length of the usually described species is about 
14 or 15 inches, and that the Ornithorynchus fuscus of 
Desmarest and Cuvier is probably a young animal of the 
present ; while there is another Ornithorynchus with smooth 
hair, of the same size as their fuscus^ and of nearly the 
same colour as the O. crispus, which, together with his 
rwfus^ I consider as forming only one species, the indivi- 
duals of which vary in colour, and which I would designate 
by the name of Ornithorynchus latvis^ and characterize as 
follows:- — Ornithorynchus pilis universis rectis, caudauli- 
bus superioribus elongatis liberis. 
Edinburgh, V 
I'lth August 1824. j 
Since the above paper was read to the Society, I have 
found reason to think, that the large individuals described 
in it are old, or, at least, adult specimens ; and that all the 
other alleged species, characterized by a difference of colour 
in the hair, or other circumstances, are merely varieties 
dependent upon difi^erences of age, sex, or locality. If this 
opinion be correct, the Ornithorynchus paradoocus of Blu- 
menbach is here described, for the first time, in its perfect 
state. 
mh September 1827. V 
Edinburgh. j" 
