THE PLATYPUS.

Shannon News, 2 December 1924, Page 4

THE PLATYPUS.

A WONDER. CREATURE. FILMING IN HOME LIFE. SYDNEY, Nov. 13. The announcement that the exhibition of a live platypus in New York created the greatest interest and wonder, and that a film showing this extraordinary ci-eature in its home surroundings would be received with widespread interest, has given added' zest to the endeavours -that \ have ali-eady been made from time to time by 'naturalists and others to secure such a film. Both in Victoria and New South Wales naturalists armed with cinema cameras are on the trail of the shy and retiring platypus. -Already some ’success has been achieved, and the home life of Ornithorynthus anatinus soon may be revealed to millions of moving picture patrons in Australia and overseas. ' Dr. Brooke Nicholls, Melbourne, a year ago secured a “close up” picture of the world’s ‘wonder mammal in and this season he hopes to complete his cinema record in a Gippsland hatfnt 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 In (Sydney shortly. It was discovered more than a century ago, and still we have much to learn concerning its haibifcs, though Mr Burrell’s observations have added greatly to our knowledge, and he is still discovering new facts.