NOTKS AND EXHIBITS. 501 



correspondents detail habitats further north than has been pre- 

 viously recorded, others give occurrences within the latitude 

 above quoted, but at the same time supply localities whence the 

 Platypus was not pi'eviously known. Such letters, together with 

 information privately received, are therefore also reproduced, and 

 I have inserted, within bi*ackets, the latitude of the localities 

 recorded. 



The latitude of Trinity Bay (16" 45' S.) is the most northern 

 limit of which I have record, and is supplied by two independent 

 correspondents as follows : — 



(1) "There are plenty of Platypi along from Mareeba to 

 Kuranda in the Barron River, which runs into Trinity Ba}' north, 

 of the 2 7th [misprint for 17 th] parallel. There's even a creek 

 here named Platypus Creek. — R. W.II., Cairns." 



(2) "The Platypus certainly lives a long wa}'^ north of the 

 Tropic of Capricorn. Years ago they were plentiful in the 

 Barron (16' 45' S.) just above the falls, and I believe they can 

 be found right along the North Queensland coast. I have seen 

 them both in the Herbert (18' 33' 8.) and Burdekin (19° 45' 8.) 

 and their tributaries, but mostl}- above the I'ange. On one 

 occasion I saw one killed in Gowrie Creek, Lower Herbert Dis- 

 trict, where alligators [Crocodilus porosus\ are quite plentiful. 

 — OK., Raveasioood." 



Three other habitats are gi^•en below, which although further 

 south than the Barron River, are yet a long way north of the 

 18th parallel. One of these observations (N"o. 3) is peculiarly 

 interesting, as it extends the range into the Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 at a point very much further west (140" 56' E.) than anj^ previous. 

 record from JSTorthern Australia, and is thus the most north- 

 westerly habitat at present known. 



(3) "I have my.self. shot Platypi at Herberton (17° 25' S ), and 

 have met a Mr. Walcott, of Tentertield, who has two Platypi shot 

 or trapped in the Norman River, Normanton (17° 28' S., 140° 56' 

 E.). While Normanton is no further north than Herberton, the 

 above goes to show that the Platypus is to be found over a larger 

 area than hitherto believed. — Medicus, Drake, N.S. W." 

 34 



