IV. A Description of the Anatomy of the Ornithorhynchus 
paradoxus. By Everard Home, Esq. F. R. S. 
Read December 17, 1801. 
The subjects from which the following description is taken, 
were sent from New South Wales, to Sir Joseph Banks, who 
very obligingly submitted them to my examination. 
These were two specimens preserved in spirit ; one male, the 
other female. The male was rather larger than the female, and 
in every respect a much stronger animal ; they had both arrived 
at their full growth, or nearly so, as the epiphyses were com- 
pletely united to the bodies of the bones, which is not the case 
in growing animals. 
The natural history of this animal is at present very little 
known. Governor Hunter, who has lately returned from New 
South Wales, where he had opportunities of seeing them alive, 
has favoured me with the following particulars respecting them. 
The Ornithorhynchus is only found in the fresh-water lakes, 
of which there are many in the interior parts of the country, 
some three quarters of a mile long, and several hundred yards 
broad. This animal does not swim upon the surface of the 
water, but comes up occasionally to breathe, which it does in 
the same manner as the turtle. The natives sit upon the banks, 
with small wooden spears, and watch them every time they 
come to the surface, till they get a proper opportunity of striking 
K 2 
