15 
other than man, for, like tho hedgehog, it has the habit of rolling 
itself up into a ball when danger threatens; the strong spines then 
protrude in all directions, and the animal remains thus rolled up until 
tho danger has disappeared. The face of the animal is prolonged into 
a long sloping thin snout with a veiy small month-opening at the 
end, and the tongne is long and flexible. Its food is supposed to be 
ants and insects. It has no teeth, but some horny excresencos on 
the palate behind. This interesting creature is amazingly strong, 
and can burrow with extreme rapidity, indeed, it has the most extra¬ 
ordinary faculty of sinking out of sight of the observer, provided the 
ground bo loose or sandy. The male has a spur on the heel of the 
hind foot, this spur is perforated and supplied with a secretion from 
n special gland, but for what object is not known; as there is no case 
on record of injury from this spur it cannot be called poisonous. The 
female possesses two small rudimentary pouches, in each of which a 
minute young one has been observed; slie has, however, no mammse, 
but tbo milk exudes into the pouch. Thi’ough the Echidna tlie marsu¬ 
pials are linked to the reptiles, and in many anatomical respects these 
animals are one of the curiosities of natui*o in this southern world. 
THE PIiATYPTJS OR DUCK-BILL {Ornithorhyncus.) 
Cnrions as is the Echidna yet its interest pales before that of its 
congener, the platypus, or water-mole. This is without doubt the 
most interesting of all the many interesting animals peculiar to Aus¬ 
tralia. It is one of the wonderful links which nature now and 
again pi*esenta, showing how one form of life can develop into 
another. The platypus is the lowest living form yet discovered of the 
mammalia, and through it the marsupials are connected with the 
reptiles. The anatomical peculiarities of these pretty little water- 
loving creatures are so great that they excited sui^irise and almost 
doubt as to their reality when first presented to the naturalists of 
Ettrope. The oraithorhyncus is common in many parts of Queens¬ 
land ; being amphibious it is never found away fi*om the river banks, 
where, duiing the day time, it sleeps in burrows. In appeai*ance it is 
not unlike a large mole, for it has the same dense fur and rounded, 
sleek contour. But in siz© it is very much larger than the mole, 
adult males bciiig found 24 inches in length including the tail, which 
is about 5 indies long, broad, and beaver-shaped. The body is broad, 
flat, and roptilc-like; it is carried close to tho ground, for tho 
legs are short, ])ut provided with five strong toes, whidi are webbed 
In such a manner on the fore feet that the webs protrude when 
swimming beyond tho poweidul claws and form perfect paddles. On 
the heel of the hind foot of the male is a spur and gland, but whether 
poisonous or no has not been satisfactorily decided. Tho head of this 
curious animal terminates in a beak like a duck*s—^lienee the name. 
The only teeth this animal possesses are four honi-Hke molars situ¬ 
ated far back in the head. The eyes are very small, black, and bright, 
and there is no external ear to be seen, but examination of the head 
shows the natural orifice which the animal has the power of opening 
