IV. A Description of the anatomy of the ornithorhynchus paradoxus

Abstract

The subjects from which the following description is taken, were sent from New South Wales, to Sir Joseph Banks, who very obligingly submitted them to my examination. These were two specimens preserved in spirit; one male, the other female. The male was rather larger than the female, and in every respect a much stronger animal; they had both arrived at their full growth, or nearly so, as the epiphyses were completely united to the bodies of the bones, which is not the case in growing animals. The natural history of this animal is at present very little known. Governor Hunter, who has lately returned from New South Wales, where he had opportunities of seeing them alive, has favoured me with the following particulars respecting them.