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yuppose, by tlie fighting of the males with one another for 

 possession of the female, a similar action being noticed 

 with other animals. I have seen several of these ulcerations, 

 and have come to the conclusion that it is from the poisoned 

 wound ; tracts of skin ulcerating from the virulent nature of 

 the poison. The fact that human beings are so rarely 

 Avounded by the platypus' spur, is perhaps to be explained by 

 the comparative clumsiness of movement of the animal when 

 out of water. The last point, seeming to me of the greatest 

 interest, is the rapid appearance and disappearance of the 

 large mammary glands situated on the abdomen to the front 

 of the hind legs. In the females v/hich I have recently 

 examined, not even the rudiment of this gland could be 

 discovered, yet two or three months later it will have attained 

 its full size, as rapidly disappearing after the birth of the 

 embryo. This is, indeed, a wonderful provision of nature. It 

 is obvious how much they would be injured by the animal 

 trailing along the ground. The testicles of the male, situated 

 in the abdomen, is perhaps a similar provision of nature. The 

 Platypus is one of the most interesting creatures in the animal 

 kingdom. I do not think any attention devoted to its observa- 

 tion, or any discussion of its economy, can be thrown away, and 

 this must be my excuse for bringing these few notes, the 

 result of several weeks of great trouble and care, before your 

 Society. 



