I 
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68 Mr. Home’s Description of the Anatomy 
them. This they do with much dexterity ; and frequently suc- 
ceed in catching them in this way. 
Governor Hunter saw a native w r atch one for above an hour 
before he attempted to spear it, which he did through the neck 
and fore leg : when on shore, it used its claws with so much 
force, that they were obliged to confine it between two pieces 
of board, while they were cutting off the barbs of the spear, to 
disengage it. When let loose, it ran upon the ground with as 
much activity as a land tortoise ; which is faster than the struc- 
ture of its fore feet would have led us to believe. It inhabits 
the banks of the lakes, and is supposed to feed in the muddy 
places which surround them ; but the particular kind of food on 
which it subsists, is not known. 
Description of the external Appearances. 
The male is 1 inches in length, from the point of the bill 
to the extremity of the tail. The bill is 2~ inches long ; and the 
tail, measuring from the anus, inches. 
The body of the animal is compressed, and nearly of the 
same general thickness throughout, except at the shoulders, 
where it is rather smaller. The circumference of the body is 
ii inches. There is no fat deposited between the skin and the 
muscles. 
The female measures in length 16^ inches, and in circumfe- 
rence n inches. The size of the body is rendered proportionally 
larger than that of the male, by a quantity of fat lying every 
where under the skin. 
The male is of a very dark brown colour, on the back, legs, 
bill, and tail ; the under surface of the neck and belly is of a 
silver gray. In the female, the colour of the belly is lighter. 
