well calculated for protecting the eggs or young from the keen winds of early spring. Two broods are produced yearly.

Worms, snails, slugs, insects, and berries constitute the food of the thrush. The common garden snail and the wood snail are greedily devoured, the bird beating the shell against a stone till it is completely broken, and the contents are disengaged."

The following anecdote is related in the "Zoologist:""This year, (1845,) during the breeding season, a pair of thrushes located themselves in a shed belonging to the Navigation Company, and forthwith proceeded to build their nest. It was placed on a shelf among some odd pieces of wood, and in it, when finished, were laid four eggs, which, after the usual period of incubation, were hatched. The shelf on which the nest was built was not above five feet from the bench, at which three or four carpenters were continually at work."

This is only one out of numberless instances which prove that if birds are but treated with kindness, and not alarmed or molested, they will become far more familiar, and consequently be far better known than might otherwise be ignorantly imagined.

DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS.

THE duck-billed platypus is one of the most singular animals that has ever been discovered. It has not been known many years, and is one of the productions. of New Holland.

The most curious feature, as it may properly be called, in this anomalous quadruped, is its duck-like bill, which harmonizes with its webbed feet; thus combining the parts both of a bird and an animal.

The body is long, low, and depressed. The fur is close-set, and consists of two kinds, that which is underneath being soft, short, and waterproof, and the outer covering being long, fine, glossy hair, thickly set. The tail is strong, broad, and flattened, and of moderate length. The general colour of the creature is deep brown, the head and the under parts being of a paler hue than the upper. The average length of the head and body, including the tail, is from twenty to twentythree inches, the beak being about two inches and a half in length, and the tail four or five inches.

The duck-billed platypus has never yet been brought alive to Europe. Mr. Bennet says of a family of them which he procured, and kept for a considerable time, "The young sleep in various postures; sometimes in an extended position, and often rolled up, like a hedgehog, in the form of a ball. They formed an interesting group, lying in various attitudes in the box in which I had placed them, and seeming happy and content. Thus, for instance, one lies curled up like a dog, keeping its back warm with the flattened tail, which is brought over

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it, while the other lies stretched on its back, the head resting, by way of a pillow, on the body of the old one, which lies on its side, with the back resting against the box; the delicate beak and smooth clean fur of the young contrasting with the rougher appearance of the old one; all fast asleep." Again, he continues, "One evening both the animals came out about dusk, and went as usual, and ate food from the saucer, and then commenced playing with one another like two puppies, attacking with their mandibles, and raising their fore-paws against each other. In the struggle, one would get thrust down, and at the moment when the spectator would expect it to rise again and renew the combat, it would commence scratching itself, its antagonist looking on, and waiting for the sport to be renewed. When I placed them in a pan of deep water, they were eager to get out after being there only a short time; but when the water was shallow, with a turf of grass in one corner, they enjoyed it exceedingly. They appeared to be in a great measure nocturnal, preferring the twilight to the bright glare of dav.

The duck-billed platypus is essentially an aquatic animal, and passes a great part of its existence almost exclusively in the water.