II. The cochlea of the ornithorhynchus platypus compared with that of ordinary mammals and of birds

Abstract

In the course of my researches into the structure of the cochleæ of various Mammals and Birds, I have been frequently struck with the marked dissimilarities displayed in these two forms of the organ. For this reason I naturally became anxious to examine it in a Monotreme, and to find, if possible, some links in structure between these two cochleæ. I therefore made inquiries for specimens of the Ornithorhynchus platypus among my Australian friends, and, after a year or two’s patience, succeeded in obtaining several skulls of that animal in an excellent state of preservation. These have enabled me to make some researches into the morphological and microscopical structure of this cochlea, the results of which I trust will be deemed worthy of the consideration of the Royal Society.