THE PLATYPUS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18238, 24 November 1924, Page 10

THE PLATYPUS.

, A WONDER CREATURE. FBOM OUR OWN OoRHESPwWDBsrr. SYDJNJSY, November 18. The announcement that the exhibition of a live platypus in New York created the' greatest interest and wonder, and that a iilm snowing this extraordinary creature; in its' homo surroundings would be "received with wiuespreau .-interest, has giv-en added zest to the endeavours that have already been made from time to time by naturalists and others to secure such a Both'in--Victoria and New South Wales naturalists armed with. cinema cameras are oil the trail of . the shy and retiring 'platypus. Already some. success has been achieved, and. the home life of Ornitherynchus : anatinus soon may be repealed to millions of moving picture patrons in Australia. and overseas. Dr. Brooke Nicholls, Melbourne, a year ago secured '.close up" pictures of the world's wonder mammal in captivity, and this season he hopes to complete liis cinema record in- a Gippsland haunt of the platypus. It will be a 'fine achievement if he succeeds, for few wild life subjects are so elusive. -In New ' South Wales Mr Harry Burrell, world-famed as an authority on the life and ways of the platypus, and Mr J. Ramsay, a Sydney photographer, are endeavouring to secure full cinema records of our wonderful little aquatic animal.

A whole, volume dealing -with the platypus from the scientific and popular points of .view is to be published i n Sydney shortly. It was discovered more than a century ago, and. still we have much to learn concerning its habits, though Mr Burrell's observations have added greatly, to our knowledge, and he is still discovering new facts.