88 
A DESCRIPTION OF 
convenience. The motions of the Ant-eater are in gene- 
ral very slow. He, however swims over great rivers with 
sufficient ease ; and on these occasions, his tail is al- 
ways thrown over his back. With this extraordinary 
member, when asleep, or during heavy showers of rain, 
the animal also covers its back ; but at other times he 
trails it along and sweeps the ground. The Ant-eater is a 
native of South America. 
THE DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS, OR WATER 
MOLE. (Ornithorhynchus paradoxus.) 
THIS extraordinary creature has the bill and webbed feet 
of a duck, united to the body of a mole. It is a native of 
Australia, where it is found on the banks of rivers, in the 
sides of which it burrows and forms its nest. It feeds on 
aquatic insects and small molluscous animals, always, 
however, rejecting the shells of the latter, after crushing 
them in its mouth, so as to extract the body. A number 
of these animals are always found together, but it is very 
difficult to watch their habits, as their sense of hearing 
