' Mammals J rom J^orth Queensland. 177 



OrmthurliyncJuiti anutinus plioxinus. 



Size lea.st of the genus ; an adult male skull 86 nun, in 

 condylo-basal length, with a least muzzle breadth in front 

 of the anteorbital foramina of 17 mm. Length of muzzle 

 from opening of anteorbital canal 38 ; breadth across ti}3 of 

 muzzle 28; interorbital breadth 12'5; ])ostcrior breadth 30; 

 upper cornnle, lengtli (exclusive of the antero-internal i)ro- 

 jection) ITS, breadth 8. 



External characters apparently as usual in anatinus. 

 Measurements: head and body 310 mm.; tail 98; hind 

 foot 47. 



Range. As vet onlv known from the present local it v. 



Type. Adult male. B.M. no. 22. 12. 18.60. oViginal 

 number 184. Collected 20th June, 1922. 



I^eing a fully adult male, with closed sutures, the single 

 specimen gives quite a satisfactory idea of the size of this 

 smJl northern race. 



It may be noted that the fossil S. Queensland species 

 described by de Vis "^ was also decidedly smaller than the 

 animal now living there. 



Ornithorhynchus anatinus anatinus, Shaw. 



Size medium: adult male skulls about 95-98 mm. in 

 condylo-basal breadth, the least length of muzzle about 

 18-20 mm. Female skull about 85 mm. An adult male 

 from Shoalhaven River, Southern New South Wah s, gives the 

 following measures : — length 98 mm. ; least muzzle breadth 

 20; length of muzzle from anteorbital foramina 43; breadth 

 across tip of muzzle 32; interorbital breadth 13*8; posterior 

 breadth 42*5. Upper cornule (without projections) 13'3 

 x8-7. 



Range. Coastal area of New South Wales and Victoria 

 east of the dividing range ; and Tasmania. 



All the technical names hitherto given in the genus 

 would seem to be assignable to anatinus. Like anatinus 

 iiseU, paradoxus, rufus, and fuscus are all defined on animals 

 I'rom the coast-region of New South Wales^ Icevis has abso- 

 lutely no locality, brevirostris ^ was based on a young 

 animal from " Swan River/' where no member of the genus 

 occurs, and crispus refers to one from Tasmania. This last 

 name would be available if the Tasmanian Platypus, which 

 is perhaps slightly smaller than the continental one, with a 

 less expanded beak, were to be thought distinguishable. 



* P. Roy. Soc. Queensland, ii. p. 35 (188G). 



t All younp^ Ornilhurhynchi Lave the short and comparatively broad 

 beak supposed to be characteristic o^breiirostiis, 



Ann. cfc Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 9. Vol. xi. 12 



