THE  ORNITHORHYNCHUS  PARADOXUS. 
249 
shallow  water  and  mud  near  the  banks,  it  crawled  up  the  bank,  and  lying  down  on  the 
grass,  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  scratching  itself  and  rolling  about. 
In  this  process  of  cleaning  itself,  the  hind  claws  were  alone  brought  into  use  for  the 
operation,  first  the  claws  of  one  hind  leg,  then  those  of  the  other  ;  but  finding  that  it 
could  not  use  the  one  to  which  the  string  was  attached  so  well  as  the  other  which  was 
disengaged,  after  repeated  trials  it  gave  up  the  attempt.  The  body  being  so  capable  of 
contraction  was  readily  brought  within  reach  of  the  hind  feet,  and  the  head  also  was 
brought  so  close  as  to  have  its  share  in  the  universal  cleaning  process.  The  animal 
remained  for  more  than  an  hour  cleaning  itself,  after  which  it  had  a  more  sleek  and 
glossy  appearance  than  before.  On  placing  my  hand  on  a  part  which  it  was  scratching 
at  the  time,  the  claws  passed  over  my  hand  instead  of  the  animal's  body,  and  I  found 
that  it  performed  the  combing  in  a  remarkably  gentle  manner.  On  my  attempting  to 
scratch  the  place  gently,  it  started  away,  but  not  far,  and  soon  resumed  the  method  of 
cleaning  itself  in  which  I  had  interrupted  it.  It  permitted  me  at  last  to  smooth  it 
gently  over  the  back,  but  disliked  being  handled.  After  I  had  given  it  a  range  for  three 
hours,  it  was  replaced  in  its  temporary  habitation,  the  box. 
The  animal  was  brought  in  safety  to  the  township  of  Bong  Bong,  at  which  place  we 
arrived  on  the  16th,  and  while  the  horses  were  feeding,  I  took  the  advantage  of  the  river 
passing  through  the  place  to  indulge  it  with  a  bathe,  and  with  an  opportunity  of  feeding 
on  the  banks  of  the  stream.  It  was  fast  asleep  when  I  opened  its  box,  but  it  was  soon 
roused,  and  instinctively  made  for  the  water,  plunging  in,  and  taking  a  good  range  of  the 
cord,  which  as  before  was  attached  to  the  hind  leg.  It  was  exceedingly  lively,  swam  in 
the  centre  of  the  stream,  dived,  and  appeared  in  excellent  health  and  spirits.  The  water 
at  one  part  of  the  river  being  very  clear,  I  saw  its  motions  distinctly  under  the  water. 
On  diving  it  sank  speedily  to  the  bottom,  swam  there  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  rose 
again  to  the  surface  ;  it  ranged  the  banks,  guiding  itself  in  its  progress  according  to  the 
impressions  received  by  the  mandibles,  which  appeared  to  me  to  be  used  by  it  as  very 
delicate  organs  of  touch.  It  seemed  to  feed  well,  for  whenever  it  inserted  its  beak  into 
the  mud,  it  evidently  procured  some  food  from  thence,  as  on  raising  the  head  after 
withdrawing  the  beak,  the  mandibles  were  seen  in  lateral  motion  as  is  usual  when  the 
animal  masticates.  Although  several  insects  were  basking  and  fluttering  about  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  close  to  it,  no  attempt  was  made  to  capture  them,  either  from  its  not 
seeing  them  or  from  its  preferring  the  food  which  the  mud  afforded.  The  motions  of 
the  mandibles  in  this  animal  when  seeking  its  food  in  the  mud  or  water,  are  the  same 
as  those  of  a  Duck  when  feeding  in  similar  situations.  After  feeding  it  would  lie  some- 
times on  the  grassy  bank,  and  at  others  partly  in  and  partly  out  of  the  water,  combing 
and  cleaning  its  coat  as  usual  with  the  claws  of  the  hind  feet.  After  permitting  it  to 
swim,  feed,  and  clean  itself  for  an  hour,  it  was  replaced,  although  with  great  reluctance 
on  its  own  part,  in  its  box  :  it  did  not,  however,  as  before,  betake  itself  to  repose,  but 
commenced  and  continued  a  scratching  on  the  sides  of  the  box. 
