168 
BUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS* 
were sent over bj Governor Hunter ; and only 
one or two others have as yet arrived in this king« 
do in. 
The platypus has two grinders on each side, both 
of the upper and lower jaw. Instead of front 
teeth, it has a process resembling the bill of a duck* 
The feet are webbed. 
Duck-billed platypus. 
The mouth of this very singular creature exhi-* 
bits so great a resemblance to the beak of some of 
the broad-billed species of ducks, that it is not 
without minute and accurate examination, that we 
can persuade ourselves of its being the real, beak or 
snout of a quadruped. 
The length of the animal, from the tip of the 
beak to the end of the tail, is thirteen inches ; and 
of this the beak occupies an inch and a half. The 
body is depressed, and has some resemblance to that 
of an otter in miniature ; it is covered with a very 
thick, soft fur, of a moderately dark brown colour 
above, and whitish beneath. The head is rather 
small; and the tail flat, furry like the body, and 
obtuse. The legs are very short, and terminate in 
a broad web, which on the fore feet extends to a 
considerable distance beyond the claws. On the 
fore feet there are five claws, straight, strong, and 
sharp-pointed ; and on the hind feet six curved 
claws ; the interior one seated much higher than 
the rest, and resembling a strong sharp spur. 
The specimens of this animal hitherto sent to 
Europe, have been deprived of their internal parts^ 
and are for the most part very i\\ preserved. Mr. 
Home examined one belonging to sir Joseph Banks, 
which had been kept in spirits, and , was tolerably 
perfect. He discovered that although the beak, 
when Cursorily examined, had so great & resect 
