﻿1 6 Allen's naturalist's library. 



of the larger Australian species, and (with the exception of 

 Macropus brmiii) was the one first discovered by Europeans, 

 having been met during Cook's first voyage in July, 1770. 

 Found in large companies or " mobs," which used to average 

 from fifty to sixty individuals each, although sometimes con- 

 taining as many as a hundred and fifty head, the Great Grey 

 Kangaroo frequents either open plains or timbered jungle; 

 and its general habits may be taken as typical of all the 

 larger species of the genus. When at rest in the upright 

 position, in which it stands from four to five feet in height, the 

 Kangaroo supports itself upon its hind feet and haunches, with 

 the tail, which cannot be bent, stretched out at full length 

 upon the ground. When leaping, the short fore limbs are held 

 close into the chest ; and its leaps are of such length that 

 fallen trees and low fences are taken in its stride, the length of 

 a single leap being probably not far short of thirty feet. In 

 leaping, considerable assistance is afforded by the powerful 

 tail, of which the regular blows on the ground may be heard a 

 considerable time before the animal itself comes into sight 

 when it is running in thick covert. In disposition Kangaroos 

 are extremely timid and wary ; their senses of smell and 

 hearing being very highly developed. The different " mobs " 

 are said to keep entirely separate ; and after the breeding- 

 season the old males frequently separate from the rest of the 

 herd to dwell apart. Their favourite haunts are open rising 

 grounds, more or less covered with timber ; and they feed 

 both at early morning and in the evening, as well as probably 

 in the night. Tender shoots of shrubs and herbage appear to 

 form their food nearly or quite as much as the various grasses, 

 and in cultivated districts they do much harm to growing crops. 

 During the daytime in winter these animals love to lie on dry 

 sandy rises, basking in the sun, where they may be seen by the 

 observer who approaches them with due caution stretched out 



