24 



{p. 16'2), of a captured platypus inflicting a severe wound l)y a ]K)\vcrful lateral and inwatd movement of the liind legs, 

 wliioli wound was followed liy symptoms of active local poisoning. It is not iniprol»al)le that botli tlie inclination to use 

 the weapon and the activity of the secretif>n of the gland may Ije limited to tlie breeding season, and tliat tlieir purpose 

 may be, like that of the antlers of the deer and many similar organs, for combat among the males. In the young of both 

 se.xes the spur is present in a rudimentary condition, but it disappears in the adult females." 



TO THK KDITOR OF THE "AKfa'S." 



Sir, — The letter you w-ere good enough to publish re the sjiur of the platypus has drawn the following interesting 

 remarks fi-om Mr. G. W. Rusden : — 



*' Al)out fifty years ago an instance of tlie effect of the poison came under my notice at the Murrumljidgee River. 

 A very active, intelligent native was, with another native, in a bark canoe He speared a platypus, and when lie was in 

 tlie act of l)ringing it to the edge of the canoe some misadventure nearly causeil tiie capsizing of tlie canoe. In preventing 

 the upsetting of tlie crank canoe tlic liand of the native was put within the range of tlie platypus' hind feet. The creature 

 in its death struggles dug its spurs into the man's wrist. He had no sooner laniied on tlie l)ank than he felt faint and liad 

 to rest, very much overcome by faintness. After less than an hour he showed me tlie swelling at the places of jniiK-ture. 

 The arm, especially at the shoulder, was very mucli swollen for many days, and the swelling of tlie glands so painful tliut 

 the arm was useless for some time. When all swelling had sul)sided, tlie arm was smaller than the man's left arm, and 

 for several weeks appeared to be undergoing atrophy. However, it regained its tone ; and tlie first use my friend made of 

 itwas by taking a canoe a few miles down the river and spearing nine tine specimens of the platypus, by way of revenge 

 for his former mishap. He promised me the spoil, and gave me the skins." These curious creatures are fast disappear- 

 ing from the earth. They lay eggs like a bird, but the hatching of the young is of the amphibian type ; they suckle their 

 young on shore, and are, in the opinion of advanced Darwiuianists, tlie primaival ancestors of man. " L'Histoire est 

 I'raimKiil singv/iere ! " — Yours, &c., 



„ . ., ,, o GEORGE B. HALFORD. 



university. May 9. 



Its fu(i(l I'dusists (if tViios, worms, and insects, liccent rL'seai-clu's have proved tliat tliey are 

 ovijiai'ons. and the eg.os have been found in various staoes. hut the seareity of tlie animal and the 

 inaeeessihility of its haliitat has remlered it difficult to olitain mucii reliable information on the 

 subject. A number of stutied specimens can be insiiected in tlie Zoological De})artiuent of the 

 Museum liy those who ai-e interested in this imirpie luember of the fauna peculiar to Australia. 



MUD TURTLES. 



The curious re]itiles Unown by tlie o-eneric name of Tortoises are remarkable for being an 

 example of the skeleton beino brono-ht to the surface of the body, as the ujiper shell or carapace 

 and the lower shell or plastron ;ire in reality a broadenino- out of the ribs and of the chest bones, a 

 comiilete box being formed into wliich the animal can completely withdraw its legs, liead, and tail. 



