﻿KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES. 21 



Size large ; form stout and heavy. Fur of medium length, 

 rather thick and coarse. Nose naked. General colour dark 

 smoky brown, lighter on the under-parts ; region of nose 

 and back of ears nearly black ; lips, inside and base of ears 

 pale grey ; limbs and tail very dark brown, gradually passing 

 into black at their extremities. Central hind toe very short. 

 Length of head and body about 60 inches ; tail about 36 

 inches. 



Distribution. — The mountain ranges of Queensland, New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 



Habits. — As implied by its name of Rock-Kangaroo, this 

 species, which is fully equal in size to the Great Grey Kangaroo 

 of the plains, is an inhabitant of bare rocky ranges, where it is 

 generally found in parties of from four to six. In disposition 

 it is much more savage than the Grey Kangaroo, biting savagely 

 when attacked, and at the same time making effective use of 

 its extremely powerful fore limbs. It is even said that when 

 extremely hard pressed, this Kangaroo will rush on its foes 

 and hurl them by its impact down the steep ledges among which 

 it is hunted. 



Gould, who was somewhat indisposed to admit the social 

 habits of the Great Grey Kangaroo, writes that the present 

 species " may be regarded as a gregarious animal, four, six, 

 and even more individuals being frequently seen in company. 

 On one of the mountains near Turi, to the eastward of the 

 Liverpool Plains, it was very numerous ; and from the nature 

 of this and the other localities in which I observed it, must 

 possess the power of existing for long periods without water, 

 that element being rarely met with in such situations. The 

 summits of the hills to which this species resorts soon 

 become intersected by numerous roads and well-trodden 

 tracks, caused by its repeatedly traversing from one part 



