NO. I 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I919 



29 



lacking". The remarkable Australian mammal fauna is now repre- 

 sented in the museum by only about 200 specimens. Very few of 

 these have been collected in accordance with present-day methods, 

 and no species is represented by adequate series of adults and young, 

 of skeletons and material in alcohol. Not only is this true of our 

 collection, but it is equally true as regards other museums in 

 America. So many of the Australian mammals are now rapidly 

 approaching extermination that in future there will be few oppor- 

 tunities for securing" the material needed for a proper representation 

 of the fauna. 



Mr. Hoy spent about two months in Washington assembling his 

 outfit and preparing for his trip. He left for San Francisco early in 



Fig. 29. — Two young duck-bills in their nest. 



May and arrived in Sydney about the end of the month. The period 

 from June to November has been passed at various localities in 

 New South Wales. While no specimens have yet been received 

 (December 31, 1919), it is evident that the work has been very suc- 

 cessful. The following passages from Mr. Hoy's letters and reports 

 will give an idea of the conditions under which it has been car- 

 ried on : 



" Travel is rather difficult just now. Each state has its own quarantine 

 restrictions, on account of the ' flu ' and it is quite difficult to get from one 

 to the other. Then too a seaman's strike is on, making travel by boat very 

 uncertain. The railroads are run by the state governments and each state has 

 a different gauge road and different rates. 



"I have a great chance to get Platypus (duck-bill). A Mr. Burrell, whose 

 hobby is Platypus is going after them on the first of October. As he has 



