| OCR Text |
Show 1887.] ON ORNITHORHYNCHUS PARADOXUS. 363 not only superficially, but anatomically, from its nearest relative in Britain, A. hortensis, Fer., has, until a few months ago, always been confounded with it, and has consequently not been recorded as British. It differs specially from all others of the genus in being keeled on the back in the young state, and is easily known from A. hortensis, of which I have specimens taken in company with A., bourguignati, by its perfectly white foot-sole and its narrow side-bands. A. bourguignati appears to be very well distributed in Britain : up to the present it has been found in Yorkshire, Middlesex, Hampshire, Sussex, Cornwall, and m y brother has recently taken a specimen at Coniston, Lanes. It has also been received from the neighbourhood of Clonmel, in Ireland. H Y A L I N A D R A P A R N A L D I , Beck.-This species in Britain has appeared to be confined to the western parts (Cornwall, Devon, and Wales), and has not been found further east than Bristol. The occurrence therefore of a colony of the species at Isleworth is very remarkable, unless on the supposition that they were accidentally introduced from elsewhere with plants, as they were found close to a garden. The specimens are remarkable as belonging to a variety which may be called maculosa, characterized by having whitish spots irregularly placed all over the surface of the shell. This condition has been recorded by Pascal in the allied species H. eel/aria, Mull., and is important because it is apparently an intermediate form between the translucent horny shells of this and the opaque calcareous ones of other species, the spots being due apparently to little deposits of carbonate of lime. The Secretary read the following extract from a letter addressed to him by Mr. Albert A. C. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., dated Melbourne, llth March, 1887:- " Vou will be interested to know that I have now a pond for living Duckbills (Ornithorhynchus paradoxus) in our gardens. The pond is about fifty feet in diameter, and is lined witb rough stone ; it has a small island covered with ferns and rushes in the centre. In it are artificial burrows, and also boxes with dry grass in them. Water is always flowing through the pond. The Duckbills seem to do very well in it, and are a great attraction. I shall make further experiments in keeping them, with a view, if possible, of sending you some of them by my son Dudley, who, I think, will again visit England about the end of this year." The following papers were read :- |
