614 CLASS XVII. 



and especially in the last twenty years, many species have been discovered 

 in Nev/ Holland and Van Diemen's Land. They live on grass and plants 

 (some on leaves), and in some degree correspond to the ruminants and the 

 hares amongst the placental mammals. In many species the males are 

 disparately large in comparison to the females. 



Compare J. GouLD A Monor/raj^li of the Macropodidce or family of Kan- 

 garoos; 1 Parts, London, 1841, 1842 fol. Various genera have been adopted 

 in this family. After an attentive investigation of the species known to 

 me I am only able to adopt four, regarding the rest as subdivisions of 

 inferior importance. 



t Upper canines none or small, deciduous. First molar tooth 

 not grooved externally. 



3 — 3 



Macropus Shaw, Halmaturus Illig. Dental formula :j ^ , 



0-0 1-1 4-4 ^„ , ^ .-,,, . . ~ ^ 



c. ;t — K, V' ^ ^, m. 7 T-=28; tlie two middle mcisors not 



0-0 ^ 1-1 4 — 4 ' 



longer than the rest, the outermost on each side broad. Ears long, 



oval. Claws of fore feet curved, compressed. Tail strong, haired, 



shorter than body. Hind feet far surpassing the fore feet. 



Sp. Macropus giganteus, Didelphis gigantea Schreb., Macropus major Shaw, 

 ScHKEB. Sdugeth. Tab. 154, Kangaroo Phillip Botany Bay, PI. 10, p. 106; 

 White New South Wales, PI. 54, p. 272; Cuv. R. Ani., ed. ill., Mammif. 

 PI. 52, fig. I ; Gould, PL 1 ; the skeleton figured in Pander u. D'Alton 

 Die Skelete der Beutelthiere, Tab. i ; the large kangaroo; the length amounts 

 to four feet, without the tail, which is full three feet long ; this kangaroo is 

 the largest mammal of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land ; — Macropus 

 laniger QuoY et Gaim. Diet. cl. d'llist. not., Atl. PI. 153, Diet. univ. 

 d'Hist. nut., Mammif. PI, 19, Gould, PI. 2, &c. Some species are about 

 the size of a hare, and resemble this also in their fur {Lagorchestes Gould, 

 Sp. Macropus fasciatus Peron Voy. PI. 27 ; Gould Mamm. of Austr. 

 Part II. PI. 6, Macropod. 11. PI. 15). 



Whilst grazing the kangaroos move on their fore feet, and as they pro- 

 ceed push forward the hind feet at intervals; they then appear as if they 

 had a difficult and obstructed gait, but that impression vanishes as soon as 

 they are pursued; then they move by wide leaps on their powerful hind 

 legs; when they sit they rest on these and their muscular tail only. 



+t U2)per canine teeth distinct. Anterior molar (late in place) 

 in length nearly equalling the tioo folloioing teeth, sculptured at the 

 sides by vertical grooves. 



Hypsiprymnus Illig., Watehh., Fotorous Desmak^ Two 



1 Nouv. Lictionn. d'Hist. nat. Tome 24, 1804, Tableau meth. des Mammif. p. 20, 

 Bettovgia (/) Gray. 



