THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1825, 12 November 1886, Page 33

THE NATURALIST.

A Problem in Natural History Solved. Ever since the existence of that extraordinary creature the platypus became known the life history of the animal has been more or less of a puzzle to naturalists. The extraordinary interest excited by the discovery of the eggs of the platypus by Mr Caldwell in Queensland some tiineago willbe remembered — how the news was cabled to England and back again, and how leaders and paragraphs appeared in nearly every newspaper in the colony commenting upon the extraordinary discovery. But the question whether the ornithorhyncus paradoxus was oviparous having been settled, another arose. How did the young platypus manage, as it had long been discovered that the female was so constructed as to suckle its young, and this seemed most singular in the case of an animal provided with the bill or beak of a fowl. However, the whole matter has been set at rest by a discovery made by the Rev. F. A. Hagenauer recently at Ramahyuck. Mr Hagenauer was anxious to secure apair of platypi for the Royal Park Gardens, and set a couple of his blackfellows to work to look for them. In their search they came upon a nest containing a male and female, and, more valuable than aIL else, a very young member of the family, which seemed as if it had been just hatched. None of the aboriginals had seen such a specimen before, nor is there any account of a white man having made a similar discovery. On examination it was seen at once that there was no difficulty in the way of the youngster. It was an inch to an inch and a-half in length, and while, of course, bearing the shape of its tribe, it had precisely the appearance of a " joey,'" being o£ the same colour, and the bill-shaped beak perfectly soft so as to allow it to attach itself closely to the maternal teat. Mr Hagenaner had it preserved in a small vial of spirits of wine, and before he went to Melbourne showed the curiosity to us. It will be placed in Professor M'Coy's hands, and the scientific world of Melbourne will have an opportunity of examining it. This discovery will, we suppose, supply all the knowledge that has been hitherto wanting in reference to the platypus. Mr Hagenauer tells us that some years ago he sent the celebrated Professor Owen, of London, a large number of female platypi, preserved in spirits, the specimens filling a five-gallon keg, and although he had captured large numbers during the course of years, he never saw or heard of anyone who had seen a new-hatched specimen, although of course very young members of the tribe were common enough. Their method of making their nest is a very excellent one. The animals commence on the river-bank below watermark, and drive several feet inland in an upward direction, so that the nest, whioh is made of grass, fern, &c, is quite dry and above water level, while it is at the same time pretty secure, and in this comfortable location the young one is kept until it can accompany its parents into the water. We understand that there has always been a difficulty in keeping these animals in confinement, arising from the fact that they are always kept in water, the fact that they live as much on land as in water being apparently overlooked. — Gippsland Times.