XI. Description of the anatomy of the Ornithorhynchus Hystrix

At the time I had the honour of laying before this learned Society, an anatomical description of the Ornithorhynchus paradoxus, (see page 67,) I did not attempt to point out any quadrupeds as being nearly allied to it, there being none at that time within my knowledge; but the discovery of another of the same tribe, which is the subject of the present Paper, enables me to trace one step further, in the gradation between that extraordinary animal and the more perfect quadruped. The subject from which the following description was taken, was sent from New South Wales, preserved in spirit. It is a male, and had arrived nearly at its full growth, as the epiphyses were completely united to the bodies of the bones, which is not the case in growing animals.