rilEFACK. 



wonderful botanical productions. The Eucalypti, the 

 Banksiiv, the Casuan'nw, the native Cedar- and the 

 Fig-trees will ever stand forth prominently in my me- 

 mory. While in the interior of the country, I formed 

 the intention of publishing a mon()gra]rli of tlie great 

 family of Kangaroos ; but soon after my return to 

 England I determined to attempt a more extended 

 work, under the title of tlic 'Mammals f)f Australia.' 

 It will always be a source of ])leasure to me to 

 remember that I was the first to describe and figure 

 the Great Black and Red Wallaroos {Osph-anter 

 rohustus and 0. mdilopmus), the three species of 

 Ouychogalca, several of the equally singular Lagor- 

 chestes, and many other new species of Kangaroos. 

 Mounted examples of all these animals, whether 

 discovered by myself or by otliers, are now con- 

 tained in the national collection of this country; 

 but I regret to say that their colours are very 

 different from what they were while the animals were 

 living, the continuous exposure to light, consequent 

 upon their being placed in a museum, causing their 

 evanescent colouring rapidly to fade, both liere and in 

 the collections of every other country. Those who 

 liave seen the living Osphmnter rufus at the Zoolo- 

 gical Gardens couhl scarcely for a moment supi)()so 

 that the Museum specimen of tln^ same animal liad 

 ever been dressed in sucli glowing tints. To see the 

 Kangaroos in all their glory, their native country 

 must be visited ; theii' beauty would then be at once 

 apparent, and their various specific distinctions easily 

 recognizable. 



