ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
109 
THE PLATYPUS AT REST 
He endured restraint with the greatest reluctance. 
to get out. It seems to me that it was actual 
fear of the male. 
On August 22, 1919, I secured a fine male 
measuring 23^ inches, and during a period of 
nine months he was responsible for the death 
of no less than two females and one male. 
In August, 1920, I approached the authorities 
in Sydney for a permit to take this specimen 
to the New York Zoological Society, but was 
refused. Keenly disappointed, I left Sydney 
September 3, 1920, on the S. S. Bellbuckle, 
bound for New York, without my platypus. 
On October 15, 1920, while I still was on the 
sea, the animal escaped from his tank because 
the lid had not been properly secured. I cer¬ 
tainly would have liked to have kept him till 
he died as it would have been very interesting 
to learn how long he could have lived in 
captivity. 
When I decided to go to the United States 
again I felt that I should bring a platypus 
along as I knew the great desire of the Zoolog¬ 
ical Park authorities in New York to obtain a 
specimen. At first things looked black for 
securing a permit from the Federal Govern¬ 
ment for the exportation. In the course of a 
conversation with Alderman C. Willoughby of 
Granville, N.S.W., about the matter, he de¬ 
clared it was very fair and just that the animals 
should be exported for the New York Zoolog¬ 
ical Society, and he made arrangements for me 
to meet Mr. A. K. Bowden, M.L.A., who repre¬ 
sents our District in the Federal House, and 
state my case to him. Fortunately Mr. Bow¬ 
den viewed the matter in the right light and 
in turn made arrangements for me to come 
to Melbourne and interview the Hon. Minister 
of Trades and Customs, Mr. Rodgers. To 
Melbourne.! went, and in company with Mr. 
Bowden I stated the case to the Hon. Minister, 
and on the favorable recommendations of Sir 
Baldwin Spencer he decided that my appli¬ 
cation should be granted. I am glad to say 
that I obtained from the Federal authorities 
all the necessary permits that were required. 
I sincerely thank all those who were instru¬ 
mental in enabling me to bring the platypus to 
America. 
Having secured the federal permits, I made 
arrangements to get the animals. I secured 
six, five of which were males. Unfortunately 
the female died sixteen days after I received 
it. 
I left Sydney with five male platypus on 
May 12, 1922, on the U. S. S. West Henshaw 
(Shipping Board Steamer), bound for San 
Francisco via New Castle, N.S.W., and Hono¬ 
lulu. On May 19, while we were still in New 
Castle, one of the medium-sized ones died. 
KEEPER TOOMEY AND HIS CHARGE 
The platypus evidenced a strong- inclination 
of becoming a pet. He did not object to being 
handled—but he could not long remain quiet 
