or if we laid eggs,
or not; and everyone wrote a book, full of lies, all out of his head.

"That's the way Humans amuse themselves. They write books about things
they don't understand, and each new book says all the others are all
wrong. It's a silly game, and very insulting to the creatures they write
about. Humans at the other end of the world, who never took the trouble
to come here to see me, wrote books about me. Those who did come were
more impudent than those who stayed away. Their idea of learning all
about a creature was to dig up its home, and frighten it out of its
wits, and kill it; and after a few moons of that sort of foolery they
claimed to know all about us. Us! whose ancestors knew the world
millions of years before the ignorant Humans came on the earth at all."
The Platypus spluttered out more dirty water, in its indignation.

The Kangaroo became very timid, as it saw the rising anger of the
Platypus, and it whispered to Dot to say something to calm the little
creature.

"A million years is a very long time," said Dot; unable at the moment to
think of anything better to say. But this remark angered the Platypus
more, for it seemed to suspect Dot of doubting what it said.

It clambered up into a more erect position, and its little brown eyes
became quite fiery.

"I didn't say a million; I said millions! I can prove by a bone in my
body that my ancestors were the Amphitherium, the Amphilestes, the
Phascolotherium, and the Stereognathus!" almost shrieked the little
creature.

[Illustration: THE PREHISTORIC CREATURES OF THE PLATYPUS'S SONG]

Dot didn't understand what all these words meant, and looked at the
Kangaroo for an explanation; but she saw that the Kangaroo didn't
understand either, only she was trying to hide her ignorance by a calm
appearance, while she nibbled the end of a long grass she held in her
fore paw. But Dot noticed, by the slight trembling of the little black
paw, that the Kangaroo was very nervous. She thought she would try and
say something to please Platypus; so she asked, very kindly, if the bone
ever hurt it. But this strange creature did not seem to notice the
remark. Settling itself more comfortably amongst the grass, it muttered
in calmer tones, "I trace my ancestry back to the Oolite Age. Where does
man come in?"

"I don't know," said Dot.

"Of course you don't!" replied the Platypus, contemptuously, "Humans are
so ignorant! That is because they are so new. When t