06

THE MALLANGONG

1. One day an English trader in Australia, who was interested in natural history , was standing on the bank of a pond, when suddenly a strange animal rose to the surface of the water and swam noiselessly about. The creature had soft, thick fur. It had four feet, which appeared somewhat like those of a mole, but were webbed. Stranger still, the small, pointed head ended in a large, flat, duck´s bill

2. The animal sank noiselessly out of sight as the trader gazed at it, and he then realized that he was the first white man who had seen the curious animal which he had heard of as the mallangong, about which he had been told many strange tales by the natives. He at once made up his mind that he must catch this animal and examine it more closely.

3. For this purpose he had first to find a regular mallangong-hunter, for he knew that the creature was very wary and difficult to find. An old native was brought him, who said that he knew how to find the creature, and a hunting party at once started under his direction. The old hunter had a long, tough, slender stick, pointed at one end. Two or three of the party were given pickaxes and shovels; and thus equipped , they set out for the banks of the pond.

4. As he advanced slowly, the old man frequently thrust his rod into the ground and twisted it about— the white men looking on as if they thought this a very dull kind of hunting.

“I have found him!” cried the old man suddenly, as he thrust his rod into the ground once more. “Dig! dig!”

The shovels soon laid bare a little tunnel, which was carefully opened up by the men. It was long and winding; but at last a small round chamber was found, and the guide picked up from it what seemed. a ball of fur. “ Mallangong!” he said.

5. The trader carried home his prize, and soon it became lively and friendly. It took the food that was offered, and showed no fear of man; it came to its master when called, and would climb on his shoulder when he was seated.

6. It was found to have its nostrils at the end of its bill, and small, shining, bead-like eyes. Its ears were merely holes hidden among its fur.Its hind feet had palms like those of a mole, webs like those of a duck, and spurs behind like those of a game-cock. It had cheek-pouches, like those of a squirrel, for carrying its food in. It would move about the room during the night, while during the day it would lie asleep in the sunshine, or hidden in a heap of shavings.

7. This animal, which is called by scientific people along name which means “the bird-nosed puzzle, ” is about twenty inches in length. Its bill is covered with tough skin, which forms a kind of frill or ruffle where it joins the head. Its fur is soft and thick, dark brown above, and paler on the under side of the body.

8. The mallangong is never found far from the water. Its tunnel and round nest are made in the banks of a pond or river. The animal feeds on the small worms and insects which it finds in the mud, and it stores them in its cheek-pouches until it has time to chew them carefully with its hard gums, for it has no teeth.

9. The natives declared that this animal laid eggs like a bird. But then it was a mammal , for it fed its young ones with milk; and no mammal had ever been known to lay eggs. It was found, however, that the mother lays two eggs, with strong, tough shells, and from these the young ones are hatched. They are then very small; but they grow rapidly, and soon learn to eat insect food. There are, therefore, a good many reasons for calling this strange creature a “bird-nosed puzzle.”

WORD SPELLING

WORD EXERCISE

1. Distinguish the meanings of the words trader , tradesman , trading , and trade .

2. Make sentences containing the words wary , aware , and beware .

3. Rewrite the last fi ve lines of section 2 in the fi rst person— “The trader said to himself, ‘I am the fi rst white man, ´ ” etc.