PLATYPUS. 
In the defeription of the animal called Platypus, 
in a preceding number of this publication, I ob- 
ferved that “ a degree of fcepticifm on a fubjeCl fo 
extraordinary was not only pardonable but laudable, 
and that I almoft doubted the teftimony of my own 
eyes with refpedt to the ftruCture of that animal’s 
beak,” I therefore recommend to the attention of 
thofe who may be equally zealous in the inveftiga- 
tion of a point fo intcrefting, the deferiptions given 
by Pallas, Guldenftedt, and Lepechin of an animal, 
not indeed very rare in fome parts of Europe, but 
which feems to have been hitherto but indifferently 
figured, and, till lately, but very imperfectly de- 
feribed, viz. the Sorex mofehatus Lin. In this 
animal, in fome particulars, an evident approach 
feems to be made to the Platypus ; and though the 
firudture of the feet differs as to exadl fimilitude, 
there is yet a general refemblance ; except that the 
authors above mentioned reprefent the hind feet as 
much more widely webbed than the fore; the con¬ 
trary of which is the cafe in the Platypus: the tail 
is alfo of a widely different appearance. It is un¬ 
deniable however that no animal would fo well an- 
fwer for an experiment of ingenious deception as 
the Sorex mofehatus. Upon the whole this para¬ 
doxical quadruped mull be left to future inveftiga- 
tion, and we mult be content at prefent to remain 
ignorant of its real nature. 
