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Show 877.] MR. G. F. BENNETT ON ORNITHORHYNCHUS. 163 when excavated, showing also that the object of the animal is always to reach as high above flood-level as possible. It is not actually above the winter floods, which in this creek are very heavy, but above the mark of ordinary freshets. The chambers on the right are raised about an inch above the floor-level of the burrow, and, although they bear indications of having been occupied, do not appear ever to have been used as a nest, as no sign of grass of any description was found in them. Sketch of burrow of Ornithorhynchus, laid open October 26th. " * I visited the same place at Helidon, accompanied by Mr. Blakiston, on the 19th of November, 1876, and again inspected the burrow in which I had previously found the young Platypi, to see if the mother had escaped by means of any side entrance, but found none. I then looked for another burrow, and found one which I considered would repay the trouble of excavating ; so I set to work, and after proceeding about 4 feet came upon a small chamber on the left side which ran out to 4 inches in diameter, the widest side nearest the burrow being 9 inches in width and 6 inches high ; and then following 11* |