BY C. J. MARTIN AND FRANK TIDSWELL. +7o 



111 another paper* he quotes Home's theory that the spur was 

 used during copulation, being then received into a socket in a 

 similar position in the female. 



Knox was opposed to this view of Home's, as he had found a rudi- 

 mentary spur in the corresponding position in a female Echidna. 

 It was situated in a small cavity, and of the same texture and 

 about I the size of a full grown male spur. The other parts of 

 the poison apparatus are wanting in the female. He considered 

 this rudimentary spur to have the same relation to the male spur, 

 as the male breast has to the female breast. 



In 18281 Thomas Axford wrote as follows : — 



" It is my firm conviction that the animal has not the power of 

 instilling poison by its spur ; and I believe this appendage is used 

 principally for securing the female in the season of love, though 

 it may be useful in enabling the animal to climb the steep Ixiiiks 

 of riAers. I have taken several large females, and I suppose old 

 ones, wdth the hair worn off, and only a fine fur left on their 

 rump ; and although I have killed very large males, never found 

 one in that state. The moment I saw the first old female thus 

 denuded, it struck me that the denudation must arise from the 

 action of the spur of the male in holding the female. If this be 

 the principal use of the spur, and if it contained poison, I think 

 it would be apt to wound the female at such times. I am so 

 convinced that the spur is harmless that I should not fear a 

 scratch from one. However, I will try and set the matter at rest 

 the first opportunity, by causing a male to scratch a chicken." 



In 1835 Owen| found in young specimens of Ornithorhynchus 

 the spur more prominent and pointed in the female, and he 

 remax'ked that this is in accord with the fact that secondary sexual 

 characters are not available for distinguishing sex before puljertv. 



* Notice respecting the presence of a riidimeutary spur in the feniale 

 Ecliidna. Edin. New Phil. Journal I. I8-.'6, p. 130. * 



t Edin. New Phil. Journ. vi. 1829, p. 399. 



+ ()n tlie Young of the Ornithorliynchus. Trans. Zool. 8oo. Vol. i. 183-'>, 

 p. -221. 



