Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . uttravel exposed to view upon the surface of the earth. You will some-times see a string of these ants a mile long, each carrying in his mouthto its nest a green leaf the size of a sixpence. 426. Why is the ornythorynchus so called? From two Greek words, signifying a fowl and abea^ in allusion to the pe-culiar form of its muzzle,which resembles the b
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . uttravel exposed to view upon the surface of the earth. You will some-times see a string of these ants a mile long, each carrying in his mouthto its nest a green leaf the size of a sixpence. 426. Why is the ornythorynchus so called? From two Greek words, signifying a fowl and abea^ in allusion to the pe-culiar form of its muzzle,which resembles the bill ofa duck; it is called also theduck-billed platypus, andthe water mole. It is alsoweb-footed, its feet beingequally adapted for diggingor swimming. 427. Why is the ornythorynchus provided with thisduck-like appendage? Because, although a quadruped, the animal inhabitsthe water, living in burrows on its borders, and beinginsectivorous, finds its food, as the duck in part does, byexploring the plants and herbs along the margins of fresh-water rivers and lakes. The broad beak acts as a kindof shovel. It is peculiar to Australia and Van DiemansLand, and has been regarded by naturalists as a link be-tween the aquatic birds and the 428. So peculiar is the formation of its muzzle, that when a speci-men was first sent to this country a general suspicion was excited thata hoax was designed. Dr. Shaw expressed the opinion, that of all themammalia, the ornythorynchus was the most extraordinary in its con-formation; exhibiting a perfect resemblance to the beak of a duck,engrafted upon the head of a quadruped. 1 42 KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. As for such as are whole-footed, or whose toes are webbed together (excepting some few) their legs are generally short, which is the most convenient size for swimming.—Derham. The ornythorynchus is about twenty inches long, having a long andflattened body, like that of the otter^ covered with a^ thick soft fur*moderately dark brown a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
