Sir, —
Professor Owen, F.R.S., in a recent article on the Fecundation of the Monetremata (Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, March 2, 1865),1 requests that females of the platypus or duckmole (Ornithorrhychus2 paradoxus) caught in October or November, and females of the porcupine-anteater (Echidna hystrix) caught in July or August, may, for his examination, be preserved in strong spirits, the abdomen being slit open to allow access of the preserving liquid to the inner parts of the animal. Such specimens the great anatomist desires to be directed either to the principal librarian of the British Museum; or to Dr. Geo. Bennett, of Sydney; or to the undersigned,
FERD. MUELLER.
Melbourne Botanic Garden, July 26.
Owen (1865a); see pp. 110-11 for the predicted dates for collecting suitable specimens.
Ornithorhynchus?
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Notes and Queries', 'Specimens for Professor Owen', Australasian, 29 July 1865, p. 9 (B65.07.20). See also M to R. Owen, 26 July 1865 (in this edition as 65-07-26b).
Please cite as “FVM-65-07-26h,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on