68 Field Naturalists' Club— Proceedings . [vol'xxix. 



Platypus in the banks of the Hopkins River, about twelve 

 miles from Mortlake, Victoria. In the nest of one of tliese an 

 adult female was captured, to which were firmly attached two 

 very small embryos, which measured only about 15 mm. in 

 length. Both the burrows and nests were described in detail. 

 Particular stress was placed on the fact that in all the burrows 

 examined none had an entrance below the water, but were 

 situated so high above the usual water-Hne that they would 

 only be immersed during high floods : that some of the burrows 

 had a second outlet on high ground ; and that when occupied 

 by the animal the burrow is blocked in several places with 

 earth. He stated that it is apparently essential that the nest' 

 be placed well beyond the reach of the water, and must be dry. 

 In view of the extremely small size of the embryo, and the fact 

 that it is not protected in a pouch, together with the blocking 

 of the burrow, the author was led to conclude that the parent 

 does not leave the nest for some time after the hatching of 

 the young. 



Specimens and photographs of the young in two stages of 

 growth, and photographs of the nest, were exhibited in illus- 

 tration of the paper. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland remarked that the Platypus was at one 

 time plentiful in the Yarra River at Heidelberg. On one 

 occasion he had seen six in one day. He asked if there was 

 any evidence in support of the supposed poisonous nature of 

 the male's spur. It was alleged that a scratch was as dangerous 

 as a snake-bite. He had been frequently scratched by the 

 spur without ill effect. 



Mr. Kershaw, replying, said that the animal never attempts 

 to use its spur in any way, and there was no evidence to show 

 that a scratch from the spur was dangerous. 



Mr. Barnard asked if the females remained in the burrow 

 for any length of time during the period of incubation. Did 

 she leave it in search of food, or was she fed by the male ? He 

 mentioned that the Platypus was still fairly common in the 

 Yarra River at Kew, and was to be seen on a summer's 

 evening. 



Mr. Kershaw stated that he was surprised to fmd the burrow 

 completely blocked up at the mouth, and concluded that that 

 was a protection against flood waters. He thought that the 

 female must remain in the burrow for a very considerable 

 period to prevent the embryo from being detached, which 

 would happen were the mother to force her way through the 

 tunnel. 



Dr. T. S. Hall did not think that the blockmg of the burrow 

 would prevent water from entering, as the soil was sandy and 

 very porous. 



Mr. Leach, M.Sc, congratulated the author on his mter- 



