io6 Kershaw, Breeding Habits and Young of Platypus. \\\\'^^xxix 



That it is apparently essential that the nest be placed well 



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

 That, considering the extremely small size of the embryo, 

 and the fact that it is not protected in a pouch, the 

 mother does not leave the nest for some time after 

 the hatching of the young, but secures herself against 

 flood waters or possible enemies by blocking the 

 burrow in several places. 

 That the young are hatched out in October. 

 Addendum. — Since reading the above paper, I have, through 

 the kindness of Mr. R. A. D. Hood, had another opportunity 

 of visiting the same locality, and was fortunate in being able 

 to examine a number of new burrows. My object on this 

 occasion was to obtain, if possible, the eggs, and, in view of 

 my previous experience, made my visit four days earlier — viz., 

 on the 22nd October. The result of my search was the 

 discovery of three eggs, two of which were obtained from one 

 nest and one from another. These were taken in the nest 

 cavity, after the female had been removed. In each case the 

 female was carefully examined, and no indication of a i^ouch 

 or even fold of the skin could be seen. The eggs are almost 

 round, of a dirty yellowish-white colour, with a soft mem- 

 branous covering. The pair taken in one nest measure 

 18 x 15 mm. and 16 x 14 mm., while the single egg measures 

 18 X 15 mm. On exposure it was noticed that they showed 

 a tendency to quickly shrink, and while being held on the open 

 hand for only a few minutes the outer covering became 

 indented. The two eggs found in the one nest were firmly and 

 broadly adhering to one another, as shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration. It is rather curious that the pair taken 

 by Mr. Hood, and mentioned above, were attached in exactly 

 a similar manner. The entrances to the burrows were, as 

 already described, situated some distance above the river, and 

 there was usually an additional outlet higher up the bank. 

 Although the animals are more frequently seen in the river 

 during the evening or early morning, it is not an uncommon 

 occurrence to see them swimming about during the middle 

 of the day. 



Personal. — We have to congratulate Mr, J. A. Leach, M.Sc, 

 president of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, on his 

 attainment of the degree of D.Sc, awarded on a thesis 

 entitled " The Morphology of the Strepera and its Position in 

 Classification " ; also Mr. P. R. H. St. John, who has been 

 awarded a University research scholarship of £50, under 

 Prof. Ewart, to carry out investigations regarding "• The 

 Distribution of Different Species of Eucalyjits in Victoria, 

 and their Relation to One Another." 



