1877.] MR. G. F. BENNETT ON ORNITHORHYNCHUS. 163 
when excavated, showing also that the object of the animal is always to 
reach as high above flood-level as possible. It is not actually above the 
winter floods, which in this creek are very heavy, but above the mark 
of ordinary freshets. The chambers on the right are raised about an 
inch above the floor-level of the burrow, and, although they bear indi- 
cations of having been occupied, do not appear ever to have been used 
as a nest, as no sign of grass of any description was found in them. 
Pies 1. 











































































































































































































Sketch of burrow of Ornithorhynchus, laid open October 26th. 







«“«J visited the same place at Helidon, accompanied by Mr. 
Blakiston, on the 19th of November, 1876, and again inspected the 
burrow in which I had previously found the young Platypi, to see if the 
mother had escaped by means of any side entrance, but found none. 
I then looked for another burrow, and found one which I considered 
would repay the trouble of excavating ; so I set to work, and after 
proceeding about 4 feet. came upon a small chamber on the left side, 
which ran out to 4 inches in diameter, the widest side nearest the 
burrow being 9 inches in width and 6 inches high ; and then following 
11* 

