AN ODD CREATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 6

AN ODD CREATURE.

. REARING THE PLATYFUS. SUGGESTION FOR AUCKLAND. [from our own correspondent.} SYDNEY. .Tan. 19. A suggestion for the introduction of the platypus into New Zealand may be made to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. It. ought to thrive in quiet streams as it does here. The Auckland Zoo authorities might also find these quaint creatures a great attraction. Hitherto transportation has been the difficulty. It seems that this can now be overcome. Mr. H. Burrell, Sydney's zcologist, is well known as an authority on the platypus. Mr. Burrell, while carrying out investigations into the life habits of Ms pets, recently had a paralytic stroke. TL:» week the story of a remarkably interesting experiment was made known. The platypus has rarely been kept successfully in captivity It has been kept alive for a day or two, but has invariably died because of its fondness for water, its enormous appetite for food that is hard to get, ami above all, because of its extreme timidity Mr. Burrell succeeded in digging from their burrows six young platypuses that had never yet seen water. He reared them on food that was artificial to them, Siiid for the first time it seemed the creatures would be weaned from the:n. natural food and surroundings, so tliaj they could be transported to any par* l,; ' the world. „ „ During this experiment Mr. Burrell was struck down. Fortunately he is now un-• |||| proving. He has hopes of bemy a f le ,s°%sii| irenew the work he commenced, and ulti- ; ~,, raately to land in London healthy .mens "of one of the most remarkable " v * inc creatures in the world to-day. • If Ztypuses can bo landed alive .a ~ New Zealand authorities see no reaso» why they should not thrive aud BlUiHj"* JJ in some "secluded stream. , ' ? !•