THE  ORNITHORHYNCHUS  PARADOXUS. 
235 
longer  than  one  or  two  minutes  playing  and  paddling  on  the  surface,  soon  diving  again 
and  reappearing  a  short  distance  above  or  below,  generally  according  to  the  direction  in 
which  it  dives.    It  dives  head  foremost  with  an  audible  splash. 
Although  the  animal  may  "  come  up"  close  to  the  place  where  the  sportsman  is 
standing,  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  level  the  gun,  for  that  action  alone  would 
cause  its  instantaneous  disappearance ;  but  after  waiting  patiently  until  the  animal 
dives,  and  watching  the  direction  in  which  it  sinks  ^  preparation  must  be  made  to  re- 
ceive it  with  the  discharge  of  the  piece  instantly  on  its  reappearance  on  the  surface, 
which  (when  it  descends  unfrightened)  is  almost  certain  to  take  place  in  a  short  time. 
A  near  shot  is  requisite,  a  distant  one  being  almost  hopeless  ;  and  the  aim  should  be  in- 
variably directed  at  the  head,  in  which  spot  the  shots  are  more  likely  to  take  speedy 
effect  than  in  the  loose  dense  integuments  of  the  body,  which,  as  they  afford  little 
resistance,  the  shot  are  unable  to  penetrate.  I  have  seen  the  skull  shattered  by  the 
force  of  the  shot  when  the  integuments  covering  it  have  scarcely  suffered  injury. 
Although  the  following  day  was  very  showery,  this  did  not  deter  us  from  ranging  the 
banks  of  the  river  in  quest  of  Ornithorhynchi.  The  heavy  rain  in  the  course  of  the 
night  and  morning  had  swollen  the  stream  considerably,  and  we  saw  only  one  specimen 
during  the  morning,  which  proved  too  vigilant  for  us,  and  consequently  escaped.  In 
our  return  home,  however,  along  the  banks,  about  2  p.m.,  at  a  narrow  part  of  the  river, 
one  of  these  animals  was  seen  paddling  about  on  the  surface.  We  waited  until  it  dived, 
which  it  did  soon  afterwards  ;  and  having  made  our  preparation,  on  its  returning  to 
the  surface  of  the  water,  a  short  distance  further  down,  it  received  the  contents  of  the 
gun,  which  took  effect ;  for  although  it  immediately  sank,  it  soon  came  up  again,  evi- 
dently severely  wounded.  It  evaded  capture  by  frequently  diving,  although  in  its 
wounded  condition  it  was  soon  obliged  to  regain  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  was  evi- 
dently striving  to  reach  the  opposite  bank^  :  it  moved  tardily,  with  the  greatest  part 
of  the  body  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  as  is  usually  observed  in  these  animals 
when  they  are  severely  hurt.  It  received,  however,  two  effective  discharges  from  the 
fowling-piece  before  it  remained  tranquil  on  the  water  and  allowed  the  dog  to  bring  it 
out.  It  proved  to  be  a  fine  male  specimen,  and  was  not  yet  dead,  hut  moved  occa- 
sionally, making  no  noise  except  frequent  deep  expirations  from  the  nostrils. 
When  the  fur  of  the  animal  is  wet,  it  has  a  sordid  and  far  from  attractive  appear- 
ance, resembling  rather  a  lump  of  dirty  weeds  than  any  production  of  the  animal  king- 
dom.   Indeed,  were  it  not  for  their  paddling  motion  on  the  water,  these  animals  would 
'  If  the  water  is  very  clear,  the  course  of  the  animal  beneath  its  surface  after  diving  can  be  distinctly  seen  : 
but  as  the  places  frequented  by  it  usually  abound  in  river- weeds,  it  seldom  occurs  that  it  is  noticed  in  a 
clear  part  of  the  river.  On  diving,  they  never  rise  again  at  the  same  place  ;  but  it  is  not  difficult,  with  a  little 
experience  in  sj^orting  for  these  animals,  to  judge  with  tolerable  accuracy  where  they  may  again  rise,  so  as 
to  obtain  a  mark  at  them. 
*  When  wounded,  they  make  for  the  land,  either  to  escape  into  their  burrows,  or  from  being  unable  to 
support  themselves  in  their  weakened  condition  on  the  water. 
VOL.  I.  2  I 
