# The platypus

Author: Burrell, Harry, 1873-1945

Genre: Platypus

Language: English

License: Public domain

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78386

Amazon editions: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+platypus+Burrell&tag=cyberlibrar00-20

## Summary

The first printed description of the platypus appeared in the tenth volume of the _Naturalist’s Miscellany_ (1799) under the name _Platypus anatinus_ and was written by Dr. George Shaw, of the British Museum, where the original skin, received in 1798, is still preserved. In 1800 the German anatomist Blumenbach received a skin from Sir Joseph Banks (one of two sent by Governor Hunter), and described it as _Ornithorhynchus paradoxus_. Shaw’s generic name _Platypus_ was not permissible, it having been used in 1793 by Herbst for a genus of beetles. The correct name of the animal therefore became _Ornithorhynchus anatinus_ Shaw; but ‘platypus’ has survived in the vernacular, to the exclusion o...

## Chapters

- [CHAPTER VIII](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/8/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VII](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/7/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XIII](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/13/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XI](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/11/index.md)
- [CHAPTER X](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/10/index.md)
- [CHAPTER V](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/5/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VI](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/6/index.md)
- [CHAPTER I](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/1/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IV](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/4/index.md)
- [CHAPTER II](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/2/index.md)
- [CHAPTER XII](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/12/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IX](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/9/index.md)
- [CHAPTER III](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-platypus-78386/chapters/3/index.md)