468 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
To the vegetable-eating group of marsupials belongs the kangaroo, 
an animal that greatly excited the wonder of the discoverer, Capt. 
Cook, and his fellow voyagers when first discovered. As will be seen 
from the illustrations, it has very short fore legs and very long and 
strong hind legs. It seems rather awkward when walking on all 4 
feet, but when disturbed gets over the ground with great rapidity by 
taking long leaps, sometimes of 20 feet. When sitting upright on 
its hind legs, supported by its tail, which is its usual posture, those of 
the larger species are as tallas aman. The colonists therefore gave 
to the adults of this size the name of ‘‘old man.” In their native 
country they are usually found in flocks or droves of 50 or 60 animals, 
and, like sheep, invariably follow a leader when on the move. There 
they feed upon the tender young shoots of grass and other plants; in 
captivity they adapt themselves very readily to a diet of garden 
vegetables. There are a number of smaller tree kangaroos not larger 
than a house cat. In the park several kangaroos are kept during 
the summer in a large paddock, where they nibble grass and lie under 
the shade of the trees. At night they go into an open shed much as 
domestic animals would do. They are very timid and at any unusual 
sight or noise jump swiftly away. Hf they have their young with 
them, which is not infrequently the case, it is interesting to see the 
little ones jump hastily into their mother’s pouches for concealment. 
The only representative of the marsupials native to the United 
States is the opossum, which is, in fact, indigenous to the park and the 
surrounding country. This animal lives almost wholly in trees, and 
has a long, prehensile tail and clasping hands and feet that make it 
very expert in climbing. Its diet is quite miscellaneous, fruit, roots, 
birds’ eggs, and small mammals all being acceptable. Like most 
other marsupials, it is most active at night and is dazzled by a bright 
light. 
In the Southern States the opossum, when well fattened, is much 
esteemed by some as an article of food. During President Roose- 
velt’s administration these animals were frequently sent him from 
different parts of the South and were then promptly turned over to 
the park. 
Another pest of the farmers in Tasmania, which has earned its 
title by its fighting qualities, is the so-called Tasmanian devil, a 
short, stubbed animal with a large head. Although small, it can 
easily whip a dog of much larger size. In color it is black or very 
dark brown, with a white band or spot at the neck. Its teeth and 
jaws are large and powerful, and it cracks bones with the greatest 
ease. Retiring to the shade or to a cleft in the rocks during the day, 
it prowls about at night to prey upon other small animals, and even 
upon sheep, which it destroys in large numbers. Its general repu- 
