out of my
hair. Let us go to the Platypus now."

The Kangaroo felt sad as Dot spoke of returning home, for she had
become really fond of the little Human. She began to feel that she
would be lonely when they parted. However, she did not speak of what
was in her mind, but bounded back to the Platypus to wait for Dot.

When the little girl reached the pool, she was still more surprised, on
a nearer view of the Platypus, that the Kangaroo should think so much
of it. At her feet she beheld a creature like a shapeless bit of wet
matted fur. She thought it looked like an empty fur bag that had been
fished out of the water. Projecting from the head, that seemed much
nearer to the ground than the back, was a broad duck's bill, of a dirty
grey colour; and peeping out underneath were two fore feet that were
like a duck's also. Altogether it was such a funny object that she was
inclined to laugh, only the Kangaroo looked so serious, that she tried
to look serious too, as if there was nothing strange in the appearance
of the Platypus.

"I am the Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus!" said the Platypus pompously.

"I am Dot," said the little girl.

"Now we know one another's names," said the Platypus, with
satisfaction. "If the Kangaroo had introduced us, it would have
stumbled over my name, and mumbled yours, and we should have been none
the wiser. Now tell me, little Human, are you going to write a book
about me? Because, if you are, I'm off. I can't stand any more books
being written about me; I've been annoyed enough that way."

"I couldn't write a book," said Dot, with surprise inwardly wondering
what anyone could find to make a book of, out of such a small, ugly
creature.

"You're quite sure?" asked the Platypus, doubtfully, and evidently more
than half inclined to dive into the pool.

"Quite," said Dot.

"Then I'll try to believe you," said the Platypus, clumsily waddling
towards some grass, amongst which it settled itself comfortably. "But
it's very difficult to believe you Humans, for you tell such dreadful
fibs," it continued, as it squirted some dirty water out of the bag
that surrounded its bill, and swallowed some water beetles, small
snails and mud that it had stored there. "See, for instance, the way
you have all quarrelled and lied about me! First one great Human, the
biggest fool of all, said I wasn't a live creature at all, but a joke
another Human had played upon him. Then they squabbled together one