Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs.
- John Timbs
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Strange stories of the animal world : A book of curious contributions to natural history / by John Timbs. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![there on her voyage from Bengal to Port Jackson ; it had lately been discovered also in the interior of the country. The flesh of the Wombat is delicate meat, and it has been suggested that the animal might be easily naturalized in this country. Prom observation of one seen in captivity, it is believed to be of a low grade in point of intellect; and to J\lr. Bass’ account of the capture of his Wombat is appended this note: “the Kangaroo and some other animals in Kew South Wales Avere remarkable for being domesticated as soon as taken.” This may begone of the consequences of the Ioav cerebral development to be observed in this group. Of Edentata, or toothless animals, Australia j^ossesses tAvo genera, the Eclinida, or PorciqAine Ant-eater; and that most extraordinary animal, the Oriiithorhynchus paradoxus. It is found in the Murrumbidgi and other iWers in South- eastern Australia. Its English name is the Duck-bill : on account of its burroAAung habits it is called by the colonists the Water Mole; or in Sydney Smitli’s AA^ords, it is “a cj[uadruped as big as a large cat, Avitli the eyes, colour, and skin of a mole, and the bill and Aveb-feet of a duck.” ]\Ir. Bennet first saAV a living Ornithorhynchus paddling on the surface of a pond on AAdiich numerous aquatic plants greAv. The slightest noise or moA^ement of the observer’s body Avoiild cause the instant disappearance of the Duck-bill, so acute is it in sight or hearing, or perhaps in both, and it seldom re-appears Avdien it has been frightened : it dives head fore- most Avith an audible splash; a near shot is necessary, a distant one is almost hopeless upon the loose dense integu- ments of the body. When the fur is Avet, it resembles a lump of dirty Aveeds. The spur on the 1 under feet of the male Avas long said to contain a deadly poison, A\diich false](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28127420_0357.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
