[55] Longfellow, “The Discoverer of The North Cape.” [56] “_Ornithorhynchus paradoxus._” LESSON XXVII. THE MALLANGONG. “I’m truly sorry man’s dominion Has broken nature’s social union, And justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle.” --BURNS. English settlers had not been long in Australia before they were told by the natives of a very curious animal, the description of which seemed rather that of an imaginary than of a possible creature. The animal was called by the Australian natives a mallangong, and was said to be very shy and secretive in its habits. The traders who heard these stories concluded that they dealt with some fabulous beasts, such as appear in the folk-lore of nearly all countries. But one day a trader who was interested in natural science was standing on the bank of a pond, when suddenly a new animal rose to the surface of the water and swam noiselessly about. The creature had the soft thick fur of a beaver or otter, now apparently black, as it was wet and clung closely to the skin. Four legs the trader counted, and as the feet came to the surface they showed that they were webbed and pink-palmed like a mole’s feet. Stranger still, the small, pointed head appeared to have neither eyes nor ears, yet bore above the water a large, flat duck’s bill. As the excited trader looked, the beast sank noiselessly out of sight. He realized that he was the first white man who had seen a mallangong, and that the strange tales were true tales. The Australian wonder must be taken from the domain of folk-lore and handed over to the investigations of science. But you must first catch your mallangong. He consulted the people who came to his trading-house, and they told him that he must find a regular hunter of the mallangong; for the beast was wary and scarce. At last an old native was brought to him, who said that he knew how to get the desired prey; and at once a hunting party was organized and armed under the old man’s direction. What weapons did they take? Guns and knives? Not at all. The old hunter had for his equipment a long, tough, slender stick, pointed at one end. This was for prodding, not the mallangong, but the ground. Two or three others of the party were given drills and shovels, or pick-axes, and so prepared they set out, the old man leading the way to the bank of a little stream. As he slowly moved along he thrust his rod into the ground and twisted it about. The others of the party considered this very dull hunting. “I have found him!” cried the old man. “Dig! dig! Behold the mallangong!”