CONCERNING EGGS 57 



the nostrils are situated at the extremity of that 

 organ. All the feet are furnished with webs ; those 

 upon the fore-feet, which extend beyond the claws 

 and serve as admirable paddles when the creature 

 is swimming, being partly folded back when it is 

 engaged in burrowing. Although it has for long 

 been known that the female echidna hatches out its 

 young from eggs which she has deposited, yet there 

 appears to have been some doubt as to whether the 

 ova of the female platypus were actually laid by the 

 parent or not. But any uncertainty regarding this 

 question no longer exists, Professor Wilson having 

 proved conclusively by the discovery of some eggs, 

 models of which can be seen in the Mammal gallery 

 at the Natural History Museum, London, that she 

 really does so. 



The home of the platypus is excavated out of 

 the bank of a river. Two entrances are usually 

 made, one of which is situated under the water and 

 the other about two feet above the water-level the 

 latter being carefully concealed amidst long grass 

 and other foliage. These entrances lead to long 

 passages which run obliquely upwards in the river 

 bank and sometimes extend for a distance of fifty 

 feet. They terminate in an expanded chamber 

 measuring about a foot or more in length and six 

 inches in width. During the breeding season a nest 

 is constructed within this domicile, composed chiefly 

 of blue gum leaves. 



The young are both blind and naked when first 

 born, and their bills are very much shorter in com- 

 parison to those of their parents, 



