PLATYPUS. 
319 
laudable ; and I ought perhaps to acknowledge that 
I almost doubt the testimony of my own eyes with 
respect to the structure of this animal’s beak, yet 
must confess that I can perceive no appearance of 
any deceptive preparation, and the edges of the ric- 
tus, the insertion &c., when tried by the test of 
maceration in water, so as to render every part com- 
pletely moveable, seem perfectly natural ; nor can 
the most accurate examination of expert anatomists 
discover any deception in this particular.” 
