How the Platypus Breeds.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 126, 31 October 1885, Page 5

How the Platypus Breeds.

Upon this subject Mr H. J. M'Cooey writes, under date August 20th, to the Sydney Toion and Country Journal as follows :—: — This question is now satisfactorily settled. The platypus lays eggs, and Mr Caldwell, Natural History Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge, has been credited with the honour of the discovery. Mr Caldwell, though not responsible to any scientific body in this country, was nevertheless good enough to appear before the members of the Linnean Society of Sydney, and verify his discovery. He exhibited the egg sheila, made a statement, and answered all questions put to him.' The eggs were round rather than oval, the shells hard and of calcareous composition. Mr Caldwell dissected over 600 female specimens before getting one with an egg in it. The female in which the eggs was found had laid an egg just shortly before she vas caught, and the embryologist, who had suffered so many disappointments from a similar cause, feared that he was to be again doomed to disappointment ; but such, however, was not tne case, for on dissec.tion, another egg was found, and then, and not until then, was this vexed question decided. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most notable and important scientific discoveries of the nineteenth century. Students of the philosophy of Darwin are quite alive to the importance of this discovery, and it has been hailed with delight and satisfaction by Prof. Mosely and many other eminent scientists The platypus (Ornithornynchus anatinus) has bridged the hiatus that existed between birds and' mammals j in other words, the most • important of Darwin's " missing links" has been discovered, and the chain of connection between reptiles and* mah<is now very nearly complete. Much credit is due to Professor Liversidge, of the Sydney University, for the promptitude with which ne cabled the discovery ■to the Royal Society, then sitting afciMontoeal ; and I tm personally much indebted to that gentleman for kindness* in f furnishing me with Mr Cald well's address and forwarding him my. letters. I shall be- very, thankful to your, correspondent, " if he will forward me those spirit specimens of* platypus eggs to the Australian Museum, Sydney. Duririgmy absence from Sydney Mr<Ramsay has 1 kindly promised 'to take charge of all speoimens' ( 'that may. arrive t for ime ,*t>tKe museum.