290 



NOTES ON THE EGG- OF THE ECHIDNA 8ET0SA. 



By Alexander Morton. 



(Plate XLV,) 



For mauy years past, and even to the present time, grave 

 doubts have existed in the minds of- manj as to the mode of 

 breeding in connection with the Platypus and the Echidna. To 

 the scientific world Mr. Caldwell, in 1883, set at rest any doubt 

 as to the question whether this peculiar order of animals was 

 viviparous or oviviparous, by securing a, large number of 

 specimens of the Echidna and the Platypus in various stages 

 of development. It is not recorded, however, that the e^g 

 of the Echidna had ever been found in Tasmania, and, there- 

 fore the specimen I have much pleasure in submitting to the 

 Fellows- this evening will doubtless be of great interest. This 

 important discovery was made Icnown to me by Mr. Fletcher, 

 residing in the Campbell Town district, who stated that 

 while riding in that district his horse put his foot into a 

 small hole ; on placing his hand in the hole he found an 

 Echidna had burrowed some eighteen inches or two feet in 

 the soft soil, on lifting the animal out a small white egg 

 fell to the ground, the fall broke the egg and revealed a 

 small foetus of the Echidna. Mr. Fletcher carefully secured 

 i;he broken shell and the foetus, kindly presenting both 

 specimens to the museum,. The egg is about three-quarters, 

 of an inch in length. I am indebted to Mr. R. A: Bastow, 

 ^F.L.S. for the sketch taken shortly after arrival at the 

 museum. Plate XLV, Fig. 1, natural size of the animal.; 

 .F^ig. 2, egg shell; Figs. 3, 4, enlarged size. of the animal; 

 -Fig. 5. ditto of egg case. 



