THE NATURALIST.

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THE ORNITHORHYNCUS PARADOXUS.

The following interesting fact in natural history was communicated by
Dr. Weatherhead, to the committee of science of the Zoological Society,
at their last meeting.

For the last five-and-twenty years naturalists in Europe have
been striving to obtain the carcass of the impregnated female
_Ornithorhynchus paradoxus_, for the purpose of ascertaining its mode
of gestation, but without success; for it is by dissection alone that
the hitherto doubtful and disputed point concerning the anomalous
and paradoxical manner of bring forth and rearing its young can be
satisfactorily demonstrated. This long-sought-for desideratum is at
length attained. Through the kindness of his friend, Lieut. the
honourable Lauderdale Maule, of the 39th regiment, Dr. Weatherhead has
had the bodies of several _ornithorynchi_ transmitted to him from New
Holland, in one of which the ova preserved; establishing, along with
other curious circumstances ascertained, the extraordinary fact, that
this animal, which combines the bird and quadruped together in its
outward form, lays eggs and hatches them like the one, and rears and
suckles them like the other.--_Proc. Zool. Soc._

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NOTES OF A READER.

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JUNOT AND NAPOLEON.

This soldier of fortune being one day, during the siege of Toulon, at his
post at the battery of St. Culottes, an officer of artillery, who had
recently come from Paris to direct the operations of the siege, asked from
the officer who commanded the post for a young non-commissioned officer who
had at once intelligence and boldness. The officer immediately called for
Junot; the officer surveyed him with that eye which already began to take
the measure of human capacity.

"You will change your dress," said the commander, "and you will go there
to bear this order." He showed him with his hand a spot at a distance on
the same side. The young sergeant blushed up to the eyes; his eyes
kindled with fire. "I am not a spy," said he, "to execute their orders;
seek another to bear them." "Do you refuse to obey?" said the superior
officer; "do you know to what punishment you expose yourself in so
doing?" "I am ready to obey," said Junot, "but I will go in my uniform,
or not at all." The commander smiled, and looked at him attentively.
"But if you d