652 
is viviparous or oviparous, and confirmation of that theory would scar- 
cely be likely to flutter the distinguished gathering of British scientists 
to the extent Professor Liversedge’s telegram seems to have done. 
It may be concluded, therefore, that the word oviparous reached them 
correctly. Mr. Caldwell is now in Northern Queensland pursuing 
his investigations on a station named Dangangald, two days’ journey 
from Camboon. On Saturday Professor Liversedge telegraphed to 
him for further particulars, but it will probably be at least four days 
before an answer can be received. Mr. Caldwell is one of the most 
distinguished students of natural history Cambridge University has 
produced, and at present holds the Balfour Travelling Fellowship, 
tenable for three years. This fellowship was founded in honour of the 
late Prefessor Balfour, who lost his life while mountaineering on the 
Alps. Mr. Caldwell is the first recipient of this, and his studies in 
embryology and the brilliant promise he showed caused the British 
Association to commission him to try and solve the mystery of the mo- 
notremes and discover more than is now known of that remarkable 
fish, the Ceratodus, which, possessing lungs and gills, scales and rudi- 
mentary legs, often proceeds overland from one pool to another. Many 
bushmen have asserted that the platypus is oviparous, but a platypus- 
egg has never been produced, although the late Mr. Gerard Krefft 
used at intervals to advertise an offer of £ 50 for one. Again, although 
numbers of platypus have been caught during the pairing season and 
dissected, no trace of eggs has been found, and so scientists generally 
accepted the theory so warmly advocated by Dr. Bennett and others 
that these creatures are viviparous, hence the sensation created by Mr. 
Caldwell’s telegram. The expenses incurred by this gentleman, who 
brought out with him nearly € 1000 worth of instruments and appara- 
tus, are borne by the British Association, and as his fellowship is held 
on condition that he travels he selected Australia, and more especially 
this colony and Queensland, as the scene of his researches. He is 
likely to remain here a couple of years longer. « 
Der »Register« bemerkt dazu: 
»The Recent Australian Biological Discovery. — It will be obser- 
ved from a telegram published this morning from Sydney that Dr. 
Haacke’s suppositions with regard to our London cablegram announc- 
ing an important biological discovery has been confirmed by New 
South Wales scientists. It may also be observed that this announce- 
ment, which has caused such a sensation amongst European scientists, 
was made from Queensland on August 29, or a few days after the dis- 
covery by Dr. Haacke of the same fact.« 
