In a reverse situation of what the original posting asked for, the
following is an example of a hoax proved to be genuine. When the first
mounted specimen of the Australian Platypus was taken back to Britain about
200 years ago, it was deemed to be a very elaborate hoax. It was considered
that some taxidermist had very cleverly combined the carcasses of a duck
and a beaver.

George Bailey
Objects Conservator
Australian War Memorial
Treloar Centre for Conservation
4 Callan St, Mitchell, A.C.T. 2911
Australia
Phone: +61 6 241 6122
fax:   +61 6 241 7998
email: [log in to unmask]