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male Platypus to perform an operation, which I am afraid will 

 not meet with the approval of the auti-vivisectionists of the 

 old country, viz. : to force it to puncture with its spurs, not 

 himself, but a rat or small bird, . and to record the effects. 

 This may do something to unlock what is now a decided and 

 unsolvable mystery. 



