Ixxxvi. Proceedings. 



duck-like beak, (the bones of the head, in adult speci- 

 mens, being united together and smooth as in birds, not 

 connected by sutures as is usually the case with Mammals,) 

 and the total absence of teeth, all of which are bird-like 

 characteristics, he proceeded to call attention to the mouth, 

 which, unlike that of Mammals, has no lips. As, however, 

 this arrangementwould be prejudicial to the young animal when 

 first born, the young Ornithorhynchus, during suckling time 

 only, is provided with lips, which enables it to receive from its 

 parent its natural nourishment. 



The brain, smooth as in birds, not convoluted, was next de- 

 scribed, and the organs of generation, which, though possessed 

 of many singular bird-like characteristics, do not render the 

 animal oviparous. Many remarkable bird-like characteristics 

 were also pointed out in the bones of the skeleton, and atten- 

 tion was next called to the mammary glands of the female. 

 These are not provided with any nipple, and this fact has led 

 many naturalists to believe that the process of feeding the young 

 is facilitated by the female discharging into its mouth the milk 

 which the glands secrete. 



The peculiar structure of the feet of the Platypus was pointed 

 out, and described in detail, particular attention being called to 

 the spur, which is much like that of the ordinary barndoor 

 fowl, and also to the nails which, like the spur, are perforated 

 in a remarkable manner. Having further described the peculiar 

 structure of the hair, specimens of which were exhibited under 

 the microscope, together with specimens of the hair of the 

 common Mole (Talpa vulgaris), the reason for the peculiari- 

 ties in each, namely, to allow the animal to back out of eaith 

 or mud, without soiling its skin, being explained and illustrated. 

 Mr. Flower concluded his paper by explaining why ic is that 

 the Mammals of Australia are all either Monotremes or Mar- 

 supials, and why those two orders are confined to Australia. 

 Shortly after these two orders of Mammals appeared upon the 

 earth, and when there were as yet no higher animals which 

 had reached Australia, that continent was broken a^va;/ from 

 the continent of Asia, and has never since been connected 

 with it. Its ancient fauna therefore has thus been leit to 

 flourish and develope without interference and without com- 

 petition with higher forms. 



The paper was followed by a full and interesting discussion 

 on the several subjects referred to in it, in which the Rev. Mr. 

 Allen, Mr. F. Warren, Mr. H.Turner, the Rev. E. M. Geldart, 

 Mr. A. Thompson, and Mr. E. Lovett took part. The discus- 

 sion being extended to some of the more remarkable features 

 of the New Zealand Fauna and Flora. The Apteryx, a 

 specimen of which was in the same case as the Plat3-pus, 



