MONOTREMATA, 249

he generally himself falls a sacrifice, after a long and hard
struggle. Notwithstanding the courage and ferocity of the
kangaroo, when pressed, he is otherwise extremely timid, and
more easily domesticated than any wild animal with which I
am acquainted. The smaller ones are frequently quite as
swift as a hare; and I have sometimes seen them outstrip
the fleetest dogs.” Young and inexperienced dogs are almost
sure to fall victims to the sharp claw and powerful hind leg
of the kangaroo, with one stroke of which he will rip the dog
open and let his entrails out.
ORDER XIII, The order Monotremata includes two fami-
Monotremata. lies, the Orntthorhynchide and the Echidni-
dz, both of which belong to Australia. The Duck-billed
Platypus belongs to the former, the Australian Hedgehog to
the latter family. (

The The Duck-billed Platypus is one if the most
Duck-billed singular of animals. “When it was first introduced
Platypus. into Europe,” says Mr. Wood, “it was fully believed

to be the manufacture of some impostor, who with much
ingenuity had fixed the beak of a duck into the head of
some unknown animal. It will, however, be seen by
examining the skull of the animal, that this duck-like beak
is caused by a prolongation of some of the bones of the
head.” The Platypus lives on the banks of rivers in burrows
which it forms, and feeds on water insects and small shell
fish, It is web-footed but its feet are so constructed that it
can fold back the web when it wants to burrow, and unfold
it when it wants to swim. The hind feet of the male are
armed with a sharp spur.

The The Australian Hedgehog is about a foot long.
Australian Jt lives in burrows and feeds on insects, has a long
Hedgehog. tonoue but no teeth. It has spines from which

circumstance it is called a hedgehog after its English name-
sake, though its spines are almost hidden by its hair. It is
said to be a dull, unintelligent animal.