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DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS.

_ Tue duck-billed platypus is one of the most singular
animals that has ever been discovered. It has not
been known many years, and is one of the productions
of New Holland.

The most curious feature, as it may properly be
called, in this anomalous quadruped, is its duck-like
_ bill, which harmonizes with its webbed feet; thus com-
bining the parts both of a bird and an animal.

The body is long, low, and depressed. The fur is
close-set, and consists of two kinds, that which is
underneath being soft, short, and waterproof, and the
outer covering being long, fine, glossy hair, thickly set.
The tail is strong, broad, and flattened, and of moderate
length. The general colour of the creature is deep
brown, the head and the under parts being of a paler
hue than the upper. The average length of the head
and body, including the tail, is from twenty to twenty-
three inches, the beak being about two inches and a half
in length, and the tail four or five inches.

The duck-billed platypus has never yet been brought
alive to Europe. Mr. Bennet says of a family of them
which he procured, and kept for a considerable time,
“The young sleep in various postures; sometimes in an
extended position, and often rolled up, like a hedgehog,
in the form of a ball. They formed an interesting
group, lying in various attitudes in the box in which I
had placed them, and seeming happy and cuntent. Thus,
for instance, one lies curled up like a dog, keeping its
back warm with the flattened tail, which is brought over

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