30 
THE BEAK. 
extraordinary animals in the world, found only in New South 
Wales. It is called the “ Duck-hilled Platypus;” having the 
beak of a duck, the body of an animal, and the feet webbed, 
and furnished also with strong claws. As it lives under- 
ground generally, its eyes are like the mole’s, so small as 
nearly to prevent its seeing. It depends, therefore, in great 
measure, upon the sense of feeling, and smelling, and tasting 
belonging to the beak, for its livelihood ; and accordingly if 
is found, that throughout the whole beak, and more espe- 
cially at its extremities, there is a fine nervous tissue which 
renders it as sensible as the tongue for the taste, or the 
fingers for the touch, and the nose for smelling. 
There is a Duck closely al- 
lied to our Shovelers, whose 
beak has a curious addition- 
certain flaps or loose projections 
- — of which the annexed figure 
will give a better idea than any 
, description. It is found in Aus- 
tralia, hut its habits are little 
known. 
In the Goosander, which in 
other respects partakes much of 
the nature of Ducks, these rows of tooth-like lines are 
harder, and very much resemble the teeth of a saw, extend- 
ing along the edge of the beak ; thus enabling it to secure 
even eels and fish, of which it destroys great numbers, and 
which would, hut for this addition, make their escape and 
slip away from a surface unprovided with means of holding 
them fast. The hill of the Rhynchops or Skimmer, which 
collects its food floating on the surface of the waves as it 
swims across the ocean, is another very curious instance of 
contrivance. In most species it will he observed, that the 
upper part of the beak is much larger, and covers the lower 
part, hut in this bird the contrary takes place; for the lower 
jaw or mandible of the beak is much larger than the upper, 
New Holland Shoveler.* 
* Anas Melanorhynchos. 
