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to the bank, occasionally thrusting its beak (with a motion similar to that of a Duck when it feeds) among the mud, and at the roots of the weeds lining the margin of the ponds, which we may readily suppose to be the resort of insects. After it had wandered some distance, it crawled up the bank, and lying down on the grass, enjoyed the luxury of scratching itself and rolling about. In this process of cleaning itself, the hind claws were alone brought into use; first the claws of one hind leg, then those of the other. The body being so capable of contraction was readily brought within reach of the hind feet, and the head also was brought so close as to have its share in the cleaning process. The animal remained for upwards of an hour thus engaged, after which it had a more sleek and glossy appearance. It permitted me to smooth it gently over the back, but disliked being handled.
"On the 28 th of December I visited a very beautiful part of the Wollondilly River, which has the native name of Koroa, and explored a burrow, the termination of which was thirty-five feet from the entrance. Extensive as this may appear, burrows have been found of even fifty feet in length. On arriving at the termination a growling was distinctly heard, which upon further search was found to proceed from two full-furred young ones, a male and a female, coiled up asleep, and which growled exceedingly at being exposed to the light of day. They measured ten inches from the extremity of the beak to that of the tail; had a most beautifully sleek and delicate appearance, and seemed never to have left the burrow. When awakened and placed on the ground, they moved about, but did not make such wild attempts to escape as the old ones do when caught. Shortly afterwards a female was captured, which was no doubt the mother; she was in a ragged and wretchedly poor condition; her fur was rubbed in several places and she seemed in a very weak state. The eyes of the natives glistened and their mouths watered when they saw the fine condition of the young mullangongs, and they frequently and earnestly exclaimed, 'Cobbong fat' (large, or very fat), and 'Murry budgeree patta' (very good to eat). They said they were more than eight moons old; if so, they must have been tbe young of the previous season.
"The young animals sleep in various postures; sometimes in an extended position, and often rolled up like a hedgehog. One lies curled up like a dog, keeping its beak warm with the flattened tail brought over it; while another lies stretched on its back, the head resting by way of pillow upon the body of the old one, lying on its side, the delicate beak and smooth clean fur of the young contrasting with the rough and dirtier appearance of the mother. The favourite posture appears to be that of lying rolled up like a ball: this is effected by the fore paws being placed under the beak, with the head and mandibles bent down towards the tail, the hind paws crossed over the mandibles, and the tail turned up, thus completing the rotundity of the figure.
"Although furnished with a good thick coat of fur, they seemed particular about being kept warm. They would allow me to smooth the fur, but if their mandibles were touched they darted away immediately, those parts appearing to be remarkably sensitive. I could permit the young to run about as they pleased, but the old one was so restless, and damaged the walls of the room so much by attempts at burrowing, that I was obliged to keep her close prisoner. The little animals appeared often to dream of swimming, as I have frequently seen their fore paws in movement as if in that act. If placed on the ground in the daytime, they sought some dark corner for repose; but when put in a dark corner or in a box, they huddled themselves up as soon as they became reconciled to the place, and went to sleep. They would sleep on a table, sofa, or indeed in any place; but, if permitted, would always resort to that to which they had been accustomed. Still, although for days together they would sleep in the place made up for them, yet on a sudden they would repose behind a box or in some dark corner in preference.
"When running they are exceedingly animated, their little eyes glisten, and the orifices of the ears contract and dilate with rapidity; if then taken into the hands for examination, they struggle violently to escape, and their loose integuments render it difficult to retain them. Their eyes being placed high in the head, they do not see objects well in a straight line, and consequently run against everything in their perambulations, spreading confusion among all light and readily overturnable articles. Occasionally they elevate the head, as if to observe objects above or around them. Sometimes I have been able to enter into play with them by scratching and tickling them with my finger; they seemed to enjoy it exceedingly, opening their mandibles, biting playfully at the finger, and moving about like puppies indulged with similar treatment. Besides combing their fur to clean or dry it when wet, I have also seen them peck it with the beak, as a Duck would clean its feathers, by both which processes their coats acquire a clean and glossy appearance.
"I was often surprised to find them on the summit of a book-case or some other elevated piece of furniture, and equally at a loss to imagine how they came there, until I at length discovered that it was effected by the animal placing its back against the wall and its feet against the book-case, and by means of the strong cutaneous muscles of the back and the claws of the feet, contriving to reach the top very expeditiously."
The number of young produced at one time has not been satisfactorily ascertained; it has been stated that they are from two to four in number, but I believe that they rarely exceed two. When first born they are naked, and the beak does not resemble that of the adult, but is short, broad and thick, and fitted to embrace the mammary areola concealed by the hairs of the mother; "the tongue too," says Professor Owen, "which in the adult is lodged far back in the mouth, advances in the young animal close to the
